Genetically modified organisms -
fact vs. science fiction

by Lydia Diaz

There is alot of controversy and confusion surrounding transgenic or genetically modified organisms, (also referred to as GM crops or genetically engineered, or GE crops) - the main ones being corn, soybeans, and cotton, and most recently, sugar beets. In order for consumers to make an educated decision about what they are eating, they need to be given the facts. These facts can be hard to come by since genetically modified organisms are big business for biotechnology firms - particularly Monsanto Chemical. The major players would like us to believe that GM crops offer major benefits and pose no health risks. Let’s examine the arguments for creating genetically modified organisms in the first place:

1) They will produce disease-resistant strains, thus producing higher yields.More food is good, right? In order for GM crops to give high yields, pesticides and weed killers must be heavily applied – resulting in the pollution of air, water, and soil. Moreover, studies have shown that these crops are not producing higher yields because of their resistance to disease.

2) Genetically modified organisms have been tested for safety. According to an article in the Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, the Union of Concerned Citizens, in 1993, assessed the value of USDA data from field releases of GM crops. They found it to be of questionable value, and they did not scientifically determine environmental risks.

Few people know that GM crops use genes that are resistant to antibiotics. This could ultimately produce resistance to antibiotics in humans who eat these crops. Other such plants have genes which are resistant to viral diseases. These viral genes may have the potential to create new disease strains.

3) The production of GM crops will encourage diversity. In fact, the opposite appears to be true. Monocropping – planting acres and acres of the same crop – encourages the spread of plant diseases, as does the use of genetically uniform plants. This practice actually discourages biodiversity.

What does this mean for the U.S. farmer? More pesticides will need to be applied, biodiversity is non-existent, and export demand for these crops will decline, resulting in lower prices.

Adding insult to injury is a recent article by the Organic Consumer’s Association which states that when rats were fed a particular brand of genetically modified corn, they had “smaller kidneys and variations in the composition of their blood.” (You can read more about what’s going on with GM crops at the Organic Consumers Association website. You can read more about Monsanto’s Chemical’s GM crops at Monsanto.com.

What does this mean for the U.S. consumer? It’s anybody’s guess. In the U.S., companies are not required to label products that contain genetically modified organisms. It would appear that we’re caught in the middle between government researchers, who theoretically work for the common good, and commercial entities, who want to turn a profit. The question remains whether or not we are being used as guinea pigs in a mass experiment using GM crops. Who is monitoring this research? Are results being made available to the public? More importantly, how do we know what these crops are being genetically modified to produce? And why are we, in essence, being forced to eat GM crops? You can find additional reports on genetically modified crops at the Independent Science Panel's website.

Companies that produce gmos are finding other ways to incorporate gmo crops into the world's food supply. Read "Stealth gmo's" by bangmfood.org for some interesting information that you may not have heard about.

Latest rulings on GM crops

Recenly, Dr. Nina Federoff became the Science & Technology Advisor to the State Department. Many argue that her background serving bio-tech companies predisposes her to advocate for GM technology. She has been an ardent supporter of bio-technology and gm crops.

Mendocino County, California became the first county in the U.S. to ban genetically modified crops. Globally, over 100 major agricultural regions have declared themselves GMO-Free. Forty nations, (one-third of the world's population), now require mandatory labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The United States is not one of them.

In the U.S., biotechnology firms are gearing up to control what we choose to eat. In the past several months, 14 U.S. states, prodded by Monsanto and the Farm Bureau, have made it illegal for local communities to ban GM crops. A recent attempt by Monsanto and "Big Food" is seeking to limit the states' rights to regulate crop production, by adding a ruling to the Farm Bill. To read more about it, go to the Organic Consumers Assocation food regulation article. There have been recent developments in 2011 by the USDA regarding genetically modified alfalfa. Stay abreast of these changes by visiting the very informative Monsantowatch.org website., , and learn more about what is happening in other countries with gm crops by visiting the Institute for Responsible Technology website.

For information on recent developments in California, check out GE-Free Sonoma County at http://www.gefreesonoma.org/. For additional consumer information, try the True Food Network's information website, or read about what the government is doing about GM foods, BSE, and food safety at the Consumer Federation of America website.

Many organizations are campaigning to put pressure on the government to get gmo food labeled. If you would like to join one campaign to get GM foods labeled, visit the Campaign for GMO labeling website.

While some strides have been made in permitting labeling of milk free of bovine growth hormone, processed food labeling continues to be an uphill battle. Consumers who wish to avoid gmo's must purchase certified organic products. More specifically, Greenpeace has information about which foods are gmo-free on its website. For example, if you want to check out breakfast cereals, go to Greenpeace.org's "true food shopping list", where you can replace "cereals" with "snacks", and so on. You will also see which brands are produced by major corporations, should you wish to avoid those. Another website you can visit for information about which foods are non-gmo is nongmoshoppingguide.com. There, you can find guides to download to your phone, or search products by company/brand name.

Surveys show that U.S. consumers want to be able to choose whether or not to buy products that contain genetically modified organisms. If you number among them, please take action now and let your voice be heard.




Additional scientific studies have been conducted which highlight concerns over transgenic crops. A few are listed below:

Article by the "International Journal of Biological Sciences" comparing three gmo seeds

www.i-sis.org.uk/FSAopenmeeting.php

www.psrast.org/intro1.htm

Monsanto's GM corn MON863 shows kidney, liver toxicity in animal studies




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