GMO Food is Not Your Enemy

Authored by: Sophie Elijovich

Art by: Grace Liu

Some packaged foods in supermarkets proudly flaunt labels which declare their contents to be “Non-GMO Project Verified”. But what does it mean for a food to be GMO? Are non-GMO foods really so superior? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are plants, animals or other living things whose DNA has been edited through genetic engineering [1]. In this process, scientists take the gene for a desired trait from one organism and insert it into a different organism [1]. GMO foods, whose genes have been modified in this way, have been a source of controversy and fear for consumers since their inception. Although the genetically engineered trait of pesticide resistance is harmful, the development of genetic engineering in agriculture should continue, as GMO crops have been shown to be equally as healthy as their non-GMO counterparts, while having the potential for greater yield and less environmental impact.

Scientific studies have found that GMO foods are safe to consume. In tests of GMO tomatoes with inserted kanR genes, the genetically modified tomatoes were found to be “substantially equivalent” to traditional tomatoes, with no significant differences in total protein, vitamin and nutrient makeup, or toxic glycoalkaloid contents [2]. In another study, rats were fed either genetically modified or control potatoes [2]. No differences in “growth, feed intake, blood cell count and composition and organ weights” were found between the experimental and control groups of rats [2]. These studies indicate that genetically modified crops are safe to eat, with no difference in composition compared to traditional crops.

Although GMO crops themselves are safe to consume, the pesticides they are treated with are not. Large-scale GMO crop cultivation has been limited to only two traits: herbicide tolerance and insect resistance [3]. Herbicide tolerance, or HT, makes a crop capable of withstanding certain broad-spectrum herbicides. Empirical studies show that, following the adoption of HT traits in crops, pesticide use either did not decrease substantially or herbicide use increased substantially [3]. Accordingly, glyphosate use has increased since the 1990s, especially in countries where HT crops have been widely adopted [3]. Glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide, is classified as a likely carcinogen and is believed to increase cancer risk [3]. Although GMOs themselves are safe, the genetic modification of herbicide tolerance must be stopped, because it results in an increased use of carcinogenic herbicides that poses a threat to consumer safety. A possible alternative to these harmful chemicals could include research into a genetic modification capable of producing hardier crops able to outcompete weeds, potentially negating the need for herbicides.

One of the most meaningful benefits of GMO crops is their ability to fill more plates. With the world’s population continuing its rapid growth (forecasts estimate a population of greater than 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050, and 11.1 billion by 2100), global food production must increase as well [4]. Multiple studies have suggested that food production must double by 2050 in order to meet projected demands [5]. GMO crops could be key to achieving this goal. By selecting for certain traits, genetic engineering has the potential to increase crop yields, as well as create crops that “tolerate drought, thrive when irrigated with salt water, or produce fruits and vegetables resistant to mold and rot” [6]. If crops could survive previously inhospitable conditions like these, land previously unsuitable for agriculture would become available for use. With more land and increased yield, food production could rise to meet global demand. Indeed, by increasing yield, genetically modified crops have the capacity to “solve many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems” [2]. To ignore this possibility would be contrary to the health of humanity.

In addition to serving the needs of mankind, GMOs have the potential to protect our Earth. Sustainable agriculture and minimizing pollution must be prioritized, because environmental issues endanger human wellbeing and survival. One of the two widespread GMO traits is the Bt trait, which protects crops from insect pests and diminishes the need for chemical insecticide sprays [3]. According to a global meta analysis which examined many studies with farm-level data, the Bt trait in GMO crops leads to reduced use of chemical pesticides [3]. Genetic engineering of crops has the capacity to “help protect and preserve the environment by … reducing reliance upon synthetic pesticides and herbicides” [2]. This ability is another undeniable benefit that makes GMO crops a logical option for the future.

GMO food must be approached from a logical standpoint. The production of herbicide resistant crops encourages the use of carcinogenic chemicals that endanger human health and increase pollution. The cultivation of HT crops must end. However, genetic engineering itself is safe and has the potential to address world hunger and protect the environment, making it a crucial technology for the future. The agricultural industry must continue producing and advancing those GMO crops which increase yields and limit pesticide use, for the sake of humanity’s survival and wellbeing on a habitable earth.

References:

1. MedlinePlus. (2022). Genetically modified organisms - GMOs. MedlinePlus; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002432.htm

2. Bawa, A. S., & Anilakumar, K. R. (2012). Genetically modified foods: safety, risks and public concerns—a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 50(6), 1035–1046. National Library of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-012-0899-1

3. Noack, F., Engist, D., Gantois, J., Gaur, V., Hyjazie, B. F., Larsen, A., M’Gonigle, L. K., Missirian, A., Qaim, M., Sargent, R. D., Souza-Rodrigues, E., & Kremen, C. (2024). Environmental impacts of genetically modified crops. Science, 385(6712). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado9340

4. Sadigov, R. (2022). Rapid Growth of the World Population and Its Socioeconomic Results. The Scientific World Journal, 2022(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/8110229

5. Ray, D. K., Mueller, N. D., West, P. C., & Foley, J. A. (2013). Yield Trends Are Insufficient to Double Global Crop Production by 2050. PLoS ONE, 8(6), e66428.

6. Abrams, S. A., Albin, J., Landrigan, P. J., Corkins, M. R., Blanco, C. L., Fuchs, G. J., Godoy, P., Hannon, T. S., C. Wesley Lindsey, Rome, E. S., Bremer, A. A., Lots, A., Perrine, C., Sant’Anna, A., Funanich, C., Burrowes, D. L., Bole, A., Balk, S. J., Byron, L. G., & Gredia Maria Huerta-Montañez. (2023). Use of Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)-Containing Food Products in Children. Pediatrics, 153(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-064774