Genetically modified organisms (GMO)

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE). A GMO plant has been genetically altered using genetic engineering techniques, and is commonly found in crops such as corn, soybeans, cotton and canola. In general, these plants are modified to express a resistance to herbicide, which can be beneficial to farmers, allowing for less work so more crops can be harvested.

It is also argued that GM foods can provide a solution to global food problems and make farming and processing more affordable and efficient.On the other hand,we should not only concerned about the possible human health implications, but changes in food composition could have a dire effect on the environment and biodiversity.


 

Many of the foods we buy at the supermarket contain imported GM ingredients. They can be found in chocolate, cheese, chips, bread and salad dressing to name but a few.

Impacts of GMOs on the environment:

Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance. As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of “super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown, and once released into the environment these organisms cannot be recalled.

In U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food.