Genetically Modified Food (GMO) is defined as an organism (i.e. plants or animals) in which the genetic material, the DNA, has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or by natural recombination. While we might not always notice it, GMO foods are deeply embedded in our everyday lives. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 2020, GMO soybeans accounted for 94% of all soybeans planted, GMO cotton for 96%, and GMO corn for 92%. In 2013, GMO canola made up 95% of canola planted while GMO sugar beets made up 99.9% of all sugar beets harvested. Even the 55% of crops that are planted in the U.S. every year are GMOs.
GMO foods are closely tied to global health since they can improve nutrition, safety, and food availability, especially in places where traditional agriculture struggles. Nevertheless, they may also pose risks like allergies, unknown long-term effects, and environmental harm. Therefore, careful use and monitoring of GMO food engineering are important.
Benefits to Humans
GMOs pose many benefits to nutritional deficiencies and improve global health. Golden rice, for example, is a type of rice produced through genetic engineering to biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of the rice. This rice produces a fortified food (A food that has extra nutrients added to it or has nutrients added that are not normally there) to be grown and consumed in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A.
Also, by editing the genes of a certain food source, it can get rid of a gene that causes allergies. This is usually done with gene editing techniques, allowing people with allergy to consume the food that they weren’t able to consume before. Moreover, it can pose a new paradigm to countries that suffer from food and nutrition deficiencies.
For example, Ajinomoto, a Japanese food company, created a type of wheat containing a high concentration of Lysine rich in protein by cooperating with the UN and other companies. This is expected to help people who suffer from protein deficiencies. Impoverished people had really no way of consuming protein because meat or dairy products were very costly, but now, they can consume protein with a much lower cost.
Health & Concerns
Nevertheless, GMOs may pose some health risks to humans as well. A 2014 biology research on GMO beans led by experts at Sungkyunkwan, Yonsei, and Seoul National University found a gene that could trigger allergies. This is just one of many allergenic compounds found in GMOs.
Also, there is still information that is lacking; we don’t know fully what will happen if we keep on consuming GMOs. The impact of foods we consume don’t appear as quickly; therefore, there are no known long-term effects of GMO consumption yet. Moreover, environmental concerns appear from gene transfers. Genes from GMO crops may spread through pollen or seeds to nearby wild plants or conventional crops, potentially causing ecological disruptions or contaminating varieties, which could affect organic certification.
Controversies
Leading agriculture, health professionals, and organizations, including WHO and FAO and countless peer-reviewed studies support the current Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) as safe for human and environmental health. Given the available evidence, one would expect public acceptance to scale with science; however, this is not the case. Public skepticism is, to a large part, shaped by political lobbying, ethical concerns regarding unnatural organisms, and overwhelming fears surrounding “natural” products.
Sensationalized conspiracy theories and misinformation thrive in an environment where the public lacks transparent and reliable scientific information. The enduring absence of understanding paired with distorted media narratives, revolving around the topic only works to perpetuate, rather than combat, the disparities revolving around the understanding of GMOs. The gap whereby informed scientific reasoning and public perception approaches the topic, in dire need of formulating and guiding GMOs, highlights the urgency driven need for scientists to bridge the gap between science and the public.
Conclusion
GMOs are a double-edged sword: they can increase food yields and nutritional value, but also raise questions about possible environment and health ramifications. To manage those questions, further research is necessary and more disclosure and transparency regarding scientific knowledge has to take place. Labelling requirements and guidelines should ensure clarity and accuracy as consumers should be given the option to make informed choices. Access to quality information freely can enable the public to build trust in scientists, or the scientific community itself. A balanced perspective on GMOs enables consideration for both the benefits and harms, relating to equitable and evidence-based policies in agriculture and food.
By: Youngjae Lee
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
About the Author
