Genetically Modified Organisms - GMOs
What are they?
Genetic engineering (GE) is a technology that retrieves genes from virtually any organism, manipulates them in a laboratory,
and inserts this manipulated genetic material into the original organism or different organism altogether. In most cases, the engineered gene becomes part of the genetic material of the engineered organism and is passed on to future generations. The first widely grown genetically engineered crops contain genes from bacteria and plant viruses that make them resistant to several insect pests and herbicides. For example, one of the most common GMOs planted in fields across the U.S., especially here in Georgia, is "RoundUp Ready" cotton.
This particular genetically-engineered seed contains a gene not normally found in cotton plants that make them resistant to RoundUp, a type of chemical herbicide. Essentially, this allows growers to spray their fields with Roundup to control weeds without damaging the cotton plants. The upside is that it can make controlling weeds much less tedious, time consuming and less expensive.
On the flip side however, it has also created a situation in which “superweeds,” resistant to the specific herbicide being applied, are causing significant damage to crops and requiring even more herbicides to be applied. For example, in 2010, middle Georgia cotton farmers had to deal with a devastating issue related to “RoundUp Ready” cotton. After a resistant strain of pigweed took over cotton fields, 1 million acres of cotton needed to be weeded by hand at the cost of nearly $11 million. Read more about Georgia’s pigweed outbreak here.
What are the issues?
Biological diversity. Organic production methods are long-term, systems approaches to address pest control and soil health. While GMOs are currently not allowed under National Organic Standards, the principle of "co-existence," recently adopted by the USDA, serves as a serious threat to the authenticity and protection of non-GE crops. Threats include seed drifting and contamination, additives used in processing that contain GMOs ,and an altering of the food crops in general that cannot be reversed. Once GE seeds are released in to the environment, they cannot be recalled obviously.
Farmer control. Because GE seed technology is patented, farmers must pay royalties to use GE seeds and agree to certain terms and conditions, such as not being allowed to save seeds. Farmers have also been prosecuted by the patent-holders of the GMO technology, even those that unknowingly had their fields contaminated by pollen or drifting seed, from another field altogether.
Transparency and consumer choice. The U.S. is one of the only nations in the world that does not mandate labeling of GE foods. In many cases, it would be nearly impossible for a consumer to know that the product on the supermarket store shelf contains a GMO, even the most savvy of label-readers. A label would arm consumers with the information they need to make the right purchase for their family. This issue is one that touches the hearts of parents whose children suffer from food allergies, nuts or soy for example. The following GE crops have been approved for commercial use: Alfalfa, Cherry Tomato, Chicory (Cichorium intybus), Corn, Cotton, Flax, Papaya, Potato, Rapeseed (Canola), Rice, Soybean, Squash, Sugarbeet and Tomato.
More sustainable? Do GMOs truly reduce need for pesticide and herbicide application? In some instances, short-term benefits have been documented including GMO varieties that make efficient use of water or nitrogen content in soils. However, there is evidence that GMOs also increase the amount of weed killer needed to go from seed to harvest. GE seeds have increased the amount of application of many herbicides and greater total application across the board as resistant weeds are spawned. Read a study that tracked pesticide use for the first 13 years GE seeds were on the market here. Even Monsanto, arguably the biggest company producing and marketing GE seeds and herbicides, found pesticide use increased as indicated in one of their own scientific studies. Read that report here.
The precautionary principle is not employed when it comes to GMOs. This principle is one widely used by the FDA and other agencies to require testing to determine impacts of new technologies on public health. For example, when a prescription drug company wants to approve a new drug, they must undergo study and research before the FDA will offer their approval and allow the product to enter the market. However, we have not exercised the same level of healthy precaution with GE technology, one that has forever altered and continues to alter our very food supply. The Center for Food Safety estimates that nearly 70% of supermarket store products contain GMOs. When addressing GMOs, the USDA relies solely on a volunteer review process but does not mandate a formal approval process, one that would assess the safety of such technology from both a benefit and risk perspective.
GMOs also suffer from a lack of conclusive research. Because the technology is owned by the private sector, testing and research is tightly controlled by intellectual property laws. This, coupled with no USDA oversight of GE crops once they are deregulated (for environmental or health impacts), is an area where greater transparency has the potential to benefit all parties involved.
Great Resources
Read the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition's thoughtful policy analysis of GMOs here
(Georgia Organics is a member of the Coalition)
Read a great Farm Aid column on the state of GMO regulation and research here
(Includes latest deregulated GMO crop news and lots of great links for digging deeper)
Take the Go GMO-Free Challenge
(Headed up by The Rodale Institute, take a personal challenge to reduce or eliminate GMOs in your family's diet)
TedX Talk with Robyn O'Brien
(Compelling perspective on GMOs in food and its links to children's health, cancers and the economic competitiveness of our farmers and food businesses)
The Center for Food Safety
(Online hub for great information on GMOs)