When discussing and writing about GMOs, many arguments are put forth on why they are “bad” and should be avoided. However, many of these are not about GMOs, but rather, are issues that we’re facing in modern agriculture and in our economy. In this
Long before humans understood genes, they were selectively breeding animals (like dogs, sheep, etc) and plants to improve desired characteristics. Much of what we eat today on the international plate were crops that were once only grown in specific corners of the world, and
We can basically all agree that the best way to feed the world would involve as little spraying as possible, as few added chemicals as possible, have plants defend themselves against pests or diseases, and then have them carry as many nutrients as possible to our
It sounds like a fruit salad from another planet, but really all the genes are naturally found on Earth. As you may have suspected though, the organisms carrying them have been slightly modified to produce more of a certain desired substance (lycopene with the
This isn’t simply a theoretical question: That’s exactly what this group of pranksters did in the Netherlands. Although the video isn’t in English, you can see from the tone (also, know that lecker is delicious) that the people thought that the McDonalds food was great, and
I gave my child autism. It wasn’t because of vaccines. It wasn’t because of tuna. It wasn’t because of formula. It wasn’t because of Tylenol, ultrasounds, antidepressants, Pitocin, tobacco, television, or pesticides. How do I know? Because she wasn’t exposed to any of these
Almost any farmer or consumer could agree on the following ideals for our agricultural system: “Farming in ways that are best for us, best for the environment, and best for providing an adequate food supply.” I believe that these are the goals and ideals
Not all chemicals are equal, and neither are all pesticides. As in most areas, many people are misinformed by vague polarizing texts that frequently talk about “toxic” chemicals without stating the dose. There are things you need to know about pesticides, and I did my
Ever wonder how your food would be without any human intervention over the course of agriculture history? For thousands of years, farmers have manipulated their crops to get the best yields and have resulted in many of the produce you see today. Also, it’s
So, I think we’ve all seen this type of image from anti-GMO activists: The irony is that this is so completely divorced from what one actually does to modify a tomato, or indeed any plant, that it only serves to polarize. Also, it allows