The Pros And Cons Of GMO

Now, some of you may be wondering, “What exactly are GMOs,” or “Why should I care about them?” GMOs stand for genetically modified, or engineered, organisms. Scientists GM foods by inserting genes from an unrelated species into another. The explanation given from scientists on why they do this is for the safety of our health. It is believed that genetically modifying foods are to 'strengthen,' or enhance the food product. However, rather than aid our health like it was

A major upside to GMOs is fighting world hunger. People also need to realize that the world population is increasing rapidly (Baragona).The only way that we will be able to support the growing population is to produce more food while still using the same amount or less resources. Farmers can do this by through the use of GMO’s. GMO’s have certain traits that non-GMO organisms don't have that can make crops produce more food and resources while using less water and

According to NewsELA article “PRO/CON: Is it time to label GMO foods?, “By 2025, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) estimates that the two-thirds of the world population will confront a water shortage, Ecosystem

Many will argue that Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOs) are not safe for human consumption, however they are almost inevitable for our everyday food consumption. Some argue that the recent increase in gluten intolerance is caused by GMO foods (Argument against). Other state that the risk to humans by GMO’s is relatively small (The GMO”). The bottom line is what people put into their bodies is a personal choice and a person should be able to easily tell if a product has been genetically modified or not.

The debate over genetically modified foods continues to haunt producers and consumers alike. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are foods that have been modified through bioengineering to possess certain characteristics. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or increased nutritional content (Whitman, 2000). The debate continues to grow as to whether these genetically altered foodstuffs are the answer to hunger in the coming years, or whether we are simply children playing with something that we do not have the capacity to understand. One of the biggest debates in the GMO issue is whether producers need to use labeling of

One of the major reasons for the use of GMOs was stated by Chris Black, a plant science major and owner of Richland Plant Food Company. When Mr. Black was asked the question, “Why do farmers now use GMOs when growing crops”, he said “It really helps the everyday farmer with economics and efficiency. Since the US population is always increasing, GMOs have made a cheaper food source to the American Market.” Mr. Black also stated that “It also helps farmers save thousands of dollars in insecticide and herbicide cost that can become overwhelming, because many of the GMO seeds now have this trait. Plus Genetically Engineered crops are more environmentally friendly than organic crops, because they require less water than organic

Do you find the labels on your favorite snacks to be helpful to most consumers? Many would answer this question yes, and argue that labels contain important information that all buyers should know for health or safety reasons. While this is true, this argument should not apply to GMO labeling. GMOs, of genetically modified organisms, are foods with altered genes from biotechnological techniques. They are used to help foods to be preserved, or prevent certain pests from eating or infecting them, or even to have other desired and beneficial traits. While many may disagree, including use of these GMOs on food labels is completely ineffective. They make GMOs appear to be foreign and dangerous. There are already organic foods for those who are suspicious of genetically altered foods that cause harm. These labels would also make buyers spend more money down the road. A bill to label GMOs would cause multiple issues for producers and buyers everywhere.

GMO: “Why is it legal?” “Is it considered safe amongst consumers?”. Those are the two frequently asked questions. If GMOs are used on farms, are consumers rights and health at stake? GMOs are bad because they can cause health problems, environmental damage, and violation of farmers and consumers rights. The lack of GMOs labels plays a major part. How will consumers know what they're putting in their bodies? GMOs are used in 80% of processed foods. Yet, consumers fail to begin living “healthy” lifestyle, the consumption of GMO will drastically affect them.

Genetically modified organisms can be crops or animals. There can be a few health benefits from this process. Theresa Phillips in “Genetically Modified Organisms” states “some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yield, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition, and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world’s growing population” (Phillips, 2). “A number of animals have also been genetically engineered to increase yield and decrease susceptibility to disease.” (Phillips, 2) In “Genetically Modifies Foods: Harmful or Helpful” by Debra B Whitman also states some health benefits “pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought tolerance/salinity tolerance, nutrition, and pharmaceuticals” (Whitman, 3-9). GMOs may have health benefits, but they also come with some risks.

Although no studies can prove that GMOs are harmful to humans, many can prove the dangers of using pesticides with crops. Justin Tolley, a crop advisor for Crop Production Services, isn’t afraid of consuming GMOs in foods because they don’t contain the harsh chemicals that can harm humans. Pesticides and herbicides contain chemicals that are poisonous to the human body, as well as the environment and its wildlife. By switching from foods treated with pesticides to GMOs, the chemical intake would decrease dramatically. Along with the lack of chemicals, genetically modified foods can have increased amounts of nutrients and minerals in comparison to standard foods. Scientists have created a grain to aid the issue of A vitamin deficiencies in poorer countries (Chien). Modified foods can also replace supplement pills; the dosage would also be controlled because it would be based on how much food one ate instead of the premeasured dosage of supplements. Risks for allergies could also be eliminated using GMOs. “Scientists have identified a new gene in peanuts that codes for a protein with no apparent allergic effects” (Agricultural Biotechnology Council). Peanut and nut allergies are a very common issue and even pose the risk of death for some people. Getting rid of gene codes that trigger allergies for nuts and other foods would reduce health and possible death risks in humans; overall the health of all humans could

Abhorrently, today's consumers are faced with discomfort regarding food safety. For the past 20 years millions of people around the world have been eating plants genetically modified by scientists. Genetically modified crops are tweaked to resist the harsh herbicides. In a recent article titled Labels for GMOs are bad the author argues that GMOs are safe for human consumption. In fact,Suspected culprit in devastating 'fiber disease' statistics show that “Around 70 percent of processed foods in the U.S contain genetically modified ingredients.” ( The Editors 1 ) I strongly oppose The Editors point of view towards GMO labeling because consumers want to know what they are eating. GMOs should indeed be labeled to inform what's in the product

GMO’s in the United Sates are a hot topic, both personally and politically. Some people are uneducated on the GMO’s and that they even exist, others making the switch to going organic for the sake of the health of their families and themselves. On the political avenue many laws and bills continue to go through congress but never stay alive. Some states have stepped in and passed individual laws to at least require labeling on all food products containing GMO’s. The latest Bill to come up in the federal government was HR1599 Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (Pompeo, 2015). What exactly is HR1599; from the title you would think it is something good and positive. The intent of the bill proposed by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., said it works

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), also known as genetically modified or engineered foods, are created by forcing a piece of DNA from a totally different species, such as bacteria or viruses, into the DNA of a plant or animal. There are no long-term studies demonstrating that GMOs are safe for humans and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not do its own safety testing. Since most people like to know what they are eating, the question is: “Should GMO products be labeled”?

Arthur Keith once said, “the discovery of agriculture was the first big step toward a civilized life.” GMO products originally went up for sale around 1994. These products were not yet fully understood by the public or their inventors, yet they stayed on the market and are still on the market today. Although most companies say that these products are harmless, many studies show that these products can be harmful. I used to not know the difference between non-GMO and GMO products. Research and my family have taught me that GMO products are much different than non-GMO products. My grandfather grows much of his own food, and he helped teach me about GMOs. My father also helped teach me. My father works in an all natural non-GMO greenhouse company by the name of BrightFarms. Exploring my father's greenhouse, I met many chemists who keep the water, soil, and air in the optimal conditions for their plants. Instead of using GMOs, pesticides, or herbicides, they use natural predators to get rid of pests. They also keep natural pollinators in the greenhouse. Some of the insects my father said that he uses include “bumblebees, praying mantises, and aphidoletes.” My favorite insect that my father uses is the diglyphus which he said “lays eggs inside of caterpillars that eat tomatoes in the greenhouse.” Agriculture does not have to be done with GMOs and can be done in a completely natural way. I am against GMOs, and “today, genetic engineering techniques allow scientists to cross unlike species” (Swisher 13). Crossing these species has many bad side effects, and new side effects are still being found now. Genetically modified organism consumption should be avoided because these modifications and the pesticides used on them can cause harm to the environment, the wildlife, and the human body.

Our project is about Gmos and how a farmer took a chance to feed the world. One reason we chose this topic was we found it interesting because the roots of Gmos started with a farm boy from Iowa named Norman Borlaug. We both thought it was amazing that something so big came from Iowa. Another reason we picked this topic was both of our members is related partly to Norman Borlaug. We wanted to know about our distant relative and how he changed the world