The headlines might paint a dramatic picture, but the reality is that GMOs \u2013 and the discussion around them \u2013 are more nuanced than many of us assume. And that starts with the term \u201cgenetically modified organism.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the issues that\u2019s inhibiting the advancement of the discussion is this term \u2018GMOs,\u2019 because it\u2019s scientifically meaningless,\u201d says Dr. Pamela Ronald, a professor in UC Davis’ Department of Plant Pathology, and the co-author of Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food.<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t compare golden rice, which has been engineered to produce higher amounts of beta carotenoids, and the purpose is to save the lives of young children in less developed countries. That is not related at all to herbicide-tolerant crops or even insect-resistant corn. So each crop really has to be looked at on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n
Facts and Myths<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also an \u201cecho chamber of misinformation\u201d that\u2019s fed by social media, says Amy Harmon, a New York Times reporter. She theorizes that this is partly because as concern about sustainable agriculture grows, people want something they can focus on.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething that sounds scary, like genetically engineering your food in a laboratory, seems like a good target. It would be nice if the solution was that easy,” Harmon adds.<\/p>\n
Harmon and Ronald also point out that humans have been modifying their food for centuries \u2013 kids learn fairly early in school about Mendel’s experiments with plant hybridization. But would Mendel recognize the work that\u2019s happening in modern labs?<\/p>\n
According to Harmon, there is a difference in what scientists are doing with plant genetics today.<\/p>\n
Instead of combining lots of genes in a somewhat random process, then seeing which one looks good, and then cross-breeding in this traditional way – scientists are taking specific genes that they know what they do, they put it in a plant to produce a particular desired trait.<\/p>\n
Saving Crops<\/p>\n
Targeting specific genes can have advantages, though. An insect-carried bacterial citrus disease has been crippling Florida’s orange crop. To fight off the disease, farmers have been increasing the amounts of insecticide used on the crops \u2013 potentially causing unforeseen harm to workers and consumers.<\/p>\n
One company is currently working on a genetically-engineered orange that would be resistant to the disease. \u201cIf it works, it would clearly reduce the use of pesticides and it would just make the crop viable,\u201d says Harmon.<\/p>\n
Increased crop yields could also help feed booming populations. China, for example, is pouring money into technology and research on genetically modified crops that have increased disease resistance and higher yields.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy concern is that we will reject a tool that could help,\u201d says Harmon. \u201cIf there\u2019s a tool that\u2019s not intrinsically dangerous, and that could yield more nutritious foods and we rejected that just based on fears and misperceptions of the technology, it would be a really tragic thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
GMOs, agriculture, Pamela Ronald, Amy Harmon, Body and Mind, genetics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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