GMOs, genetically modified organisms, are any type of organism whose genetic material has been altered. Some common GMOs are soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, cows, chicken, and fish. If you want to learn more about how they're made, check out this video by the FDA:
GMO crops do increase pesticide use but thankfully, the Environmental Protection Agency regulates this. There’s also a belief that GMOs can be harmful for human health, including lowering the effect of antibiotics. According to the USDA, GMO foods are as healthy and safe as their non-gmo versions. In fact, some GMO plants can be modified to be more nutritious! There are also concerns with how GMOs affect the ecosystem, but more research is needed.
GMOs are one way to make enough nutritious food available with limited land, water, and other resources. They also allow our food to contain specific nutrients that food otherwise would not have. For example, soybeans have been changed to be more like olive oil. This is now a heart healthy replacement for oils with trans fats. Modified crops are stronger and can survive drought, weed killer, bruising, viruses, and can produce crops that yield more and cost less.
As you can see, there are good arguments to support the use of GMOs and also to question their use. It’s definitely food for thought, what do you think?
By: Sammy Lipovitch
Edited by: H.K. Soto
Updated: May 24, 2022