Let’s get something straight that a lot of people seem to get confused about, especially with all of the debates surrounding labeling of GMOs.
GMOs are not an ingredient. It is not something we add to a food product. It is not something injected into the plant. In fact, some products derived from genetically modified plants, such as sugar, contain no DNA and and it is impossible to distinguish between a GMO and non-GMO version – even in the lab!
Genetic modification is a process of plant breeding. It is one of many ways that we breed plants and there are even different ways to genetically modify a plant. These different processes can be used when we want a plant to express a new or highly desired trait. For example, if we want a sweeter tasting apple, we may employ one of these breeding methods in an attempt to get an apple to express genes that make it taste sweeter. You can learn more about the different plant breeding methods available here.
Genetic modification has advantages. Compared to some of the other methods, it happens to be a very precise and accurate way to breed plants and achieve the desired traits and qualities. It allows us to choose which genes we edit, and not simply leave it to chance. Scientists are also able to achieve the desired genetic changes much more quickly than more traditional breeding methods.
The confusion on this issue likely stems from the push for GMO labeling. People have been told they have a “right to know” what’s in their food! But genetic modification is not in your food, it is part of how that food is produced. Similar to the fact that we may irrigate our crops, or use a green tractor, or fertilize our crops – it is simply part of the production method. While I understand that consumers are more and more interested in how their food is grown, it is absurd to expect that we will slap a label on every product so as to include every piece of the production method.
But we know that your “right to know” has really nothing to do with knowing whether a crop was genetically modified, but rather about banning the technology.
As a vegan that has no issues with GMOs, your industries unwillingness to hear what the consumers want is your downfall. You have made ypur own bed. Too bad, but you really blew it.
And that is the ignorance she is talking about all rolled up in one statement with mis-spellings.
Thank you Stan!
You are missing the point. Most GMO crops such as corn and soybeans are genetically modified so that they are resistant to being killed by Round Up. Then the fields are absolutely drenched in Round Up so that weeds don’t grow and the farmer gets higher output. The foods you eat are covered in hazardous chemicals that cause genetic mutations, cancer, and endocrine disruption in humans. Do you now see the big stink over GMO products?
No, that is not accurate at all. Farmers do not “drench” their crops in Round-Up. First of all, that would be unnecessarily expensive. Second, there is no reason to do so when using the appropriate amount will get the job done. Third, we are regulated by law as to how much we can put on our crops, and violating that could cause a lot of problems.
To learn more about how much we actually put on our crops, check this out: http://www.nurselovesfarmer.com/2014/08/how-much-glyphosate-is-sprayed-on-our-crops/
Also, the foods you eat are not covered in hazardous chemicals that cause those problems. First, glyphosate does not cause any of the problems. Saying it does not make it true and you would need to provide some credible sources to support that statement, which I know you cannot do.
If you are worried about pesticide residues, I suggest you read this article I wrote here: http://www.askthefarmers.com/is-conventional-produce-safe-for-my-family/
You’ve obviously been getting your information from some really bad sources. I suggest hanging around my blog and social media channels for some time.
Besides Round Up resistance put into crops as the main source of GMOs as stated earlier. The insertion of a protein into agricultural crops has led to a drastic reduction soil and liquid pesticide use by US farmers. This vaccination of the crop has eliminated the use of one insecticide that 7 drops on the skin was fatal. We have more birds, especially eagles, because we aren’t using pounds of soil insecticides.
32 ounces to the acre is not drenching.
Sorry if you use MON 802 corn in my corn chowder its “gmo corn” on the ingredient listing.
But the genetic modification is not an ingredient. It is a breeding process. The corn is an ingredient and it is a genetically modified ingredient, but genetic modification is not an ingredient.
So do you think it is wrong when fish is labeled as wild caught or farm raised? GMO may not be an “ingredient” by itself, but it is a descriptor of an ingredient. Would you be happier if it wasn’t listed under ingredients but just labeled on the front? See what I’m saying? And your last paragraph is rather snarky. Certainly not a good way to welcome discussion/education. I don’t think people wanting to know how their food is made means they are against technology? That’s a rather broad assumption.
This has nothing to do with the labeling movement (which has nothing to do with helping consumers know what is in their food). This has to do with the fact that people seem to think that genetic modification is “injected” into crops – like those pictures of tomatoes with syringes in them.
And snark is part of my thing. 🙂
You’re doing great things! Educating everyone around you! Keep up the great work. It’s so hard to be a AGvocate but I like to think we are all now understanding how we have to fight/educate to feed the world.
I’ve followed you from the beginning and you have inspired me!
Thank you so much!! <3