GMOs: A Misunderstood Necessity

By JRC Reporter Kenneth Shue

GMOs are nothing new. Since the dawn of agriculture, farmers and agricultural scientists have always selectively bred crops to yield the largest, sweetest, and most nutritious plants. As science has progressed, however, the term "GMO" has been vilified by health gurus and science skeptics as something malignant and foreign, especially in the U.S. Many companies have even started printing “GMO-Free” on their packaging as a way of assuring customers their product is healthy.

While there is truth to some claims about GMOs, they are largely overexaggerated. One main concern is that crops engineered to be pesticide or herbicide-resistant may absorb harmful substances while being treated. It’s true that the idea of using chemical pesticides sounds unsettling, and that alternatives should be explored and used as soon as possible. However, as of now, many studies claiming that GMOs promote the risk of deadly and incurable diseases are outdated and do not provide conclusive evidence, as long-term testing has remained out of reach due to modern GMOs' relative novelty.

In fact, GMO crops are a key part of our food and agricultural industry. According to the FDA, “In 2020, GMO soybeans made up 94% of all soybeans planted, GMO cotton made up 96% of all cotton planted, and 92% of corn planted was GMO corn.” The specific types of crops need to be noted, as they are key crops across many industries in the United States. As the most-grown crop in the U.S., corn supplies need to be kept safe as a key driver. Corn is not only an invaluable resource in the culinary world, but it’s also a crucial feed crop for animals. Considering 95% of all animal feed in the U.S. is based on GMO crops, the industry is able to thrive due to the increased efficiency of GMOs. And don’t worry—animals (and humans) that consume GMOs do not inherit the modified DNA of the food. So, food quality from animals that were fed with GMO and non-GMO crops remains identical.

GMOs aren’t even limited to food. As previously mentioned, GMO cotton resistant to bollworms has played a key part in keeping up the textile and clothing industry. Some medicines are also created through GMOs, like the process of creating human insulin, a widespread diabetes treatment used today with no negative health impacts stemming from their genetically modified nature.

At the end of the day, GMOs are not inherently healthier, but they’re also not a threat. In a world where misinformation spreads rapidly, they’re simply one less thing to worry about.

Citations:

Program, Human Foods. “Agricultural Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/agricultural-biotechnology-education-and-outreach-initiative.

“Corn and Other Feed Grains.” Corn and Other Feed Grains | Economic Research Service, www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn-and-other-feed-grains.

This article was provided by the Chinese American Parents Association Junior Reporter Club (CAPA JRC) with members who interviewed, audio recorded, wrote, translated, and video recorded. CAPA JRC has 25 Montgomery County middle to high school students. They have created a bilingual platform delivering news and serving the community.

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