When we go to the grocery store and buy food we often see GMO products and Organic products. Have you ever wonder which kind of products is better? In this paper we will be figuring out whether GM food or organic food is better as well as their strengths and weaknesses for the environment .
A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering. We can change their traits to make them better, for example we can make it grow bigger and immune to pests. Some plants are especially vulnerable to pests. By genetically modifying them, we can turn them to BT crops, which are named after bacterias that produce pest-killing crops. If there are so many benefits, why are there so many people concerned about GMOs?
The intensive cultivation of GM crops has raised a wide range of concerns with respect to food safety, environmental effects and socioeconomic issues. The major cons are explored through cross-pollination, pest resistance, human health, the environment, the economy, and productivity.
Gene float is one of the common concerns of GMOs. Gene float, meaning that Gm crops could mix with traditional crops and introduce unwanted new characters for them. There have been cases of GMos growing where they weren’t planted, and traces of modlifes genes found in foreign crops. There is another method to prevent Gene float, but it is really a big anti-GMO argument by itself. They are called terminator seeds. Terminator technology is the genetic modification of plants to make them produce sterile seeds. They are also known as suicide seeds. This concept however caused aa public outcry, because the farmers will have to constantly spend money to buy seeds, losing profit and stopping the technology being put to use. Another way to stop it is a cultural methods life buffer zones, to keep unintentional crossing at a minimum.
Pest Resistance is another reason why people don’t like using GMO product. Repeated use of a single pesticide over time leads to the development of resistance in populations of the target species. The extensive use of a limited number of pesticides facilitated by GM crops does accelerate the evolution of pest resistant populations. Resistance evolution is a function of selection pressure from the use of pesticide (for example) which is not a direct function of GM HT (Herbicide Tolerance) crops, but GM HT crops have accelerated the development of glyphosate resistant weeds because they have promoted a tremendous increase in the use of glyphosate . Farmers have had to adjust to this new problem and in some cases this had added costs for farmers
There are many ways GMO are also good for us. GM food borrow a gene from Baticteuilm Bacillus, this destroy pest’s digestive system and kills them. Though they are not harmful to us human. How they can help? An example is Bangladesh eggplants, an important veggie that Bangladesh need , but the pest were killing them. So farmers had to rely on pesticides which isn’t useful as the pesticides were too expensive and caused them to get sick. So in 2013 GM eggplant solved this problem. Those eggplants also contain Baticteuilm Bacillus in them to kill pests. This reduced the pest by 80% The health of farmers improved and income improved. Another example is in 1990 , the papaya industry in Hawaii was under attack from the ringspot virus. Which killed all the papaya in Hawaiian. They fixed this solution by making a GMO verison with the papaya vaccinated from the virus and save the papaya industry.
Organic foods supposedly healthier, more natural and more ethical. What do actually mean by Organic? Generally organic is farmed without GMO seeds, synthetic fertilizers, or synthetic pesticides. Farmers that plant organic fruits and veggie use more traditional ways of producing them. For examples crop rotation and organic fertilizers ( mostly compost things and more).
Is Organic food healthier than GMOs? There is a very popular opinion that organic food is healthier and less toxic than Gm. According to this study made in 2014, organic crops have higher concentrations of antioxidants and other nutrients. Many of these antioxidants protect cells and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and some cancers. Organic milk has more than twice as much omega-3 fatty acid as non-organic milk, according to this recent study. This omega-3 fatty acid is also found in yogurt and cheese made with organic milk. The researchers believe the difference in nutrients is from the organic feed.
Organic farming is friendlier to the environment; therefore on organic farms, you are likely to find a greater diversity of plants (not including the organic food itself) and animals. Organic processed food contains no hydrogenated fat, whereas non-organic processed food does. Hydrogenated fat has been linked to heart disease — so choosing organic options can help to protect your heart. If you are concerned about how animals are treated, then choosing organic food is a good idea. Organic farming ensures that animals are fed a natural diet and kept in free-range conditions. Genetically modified (GM) crops are not allowed under organic standards. There are lower levels of pesticide residues in organic food, as only a small number of chemicals are allowed in organic food production. However, it should be noted here that it is possible to produce conventionally-grown fruit and vegetables with minimal residues. Indeed, residues are usually not detected in about 70 percent of produce sampled by the Pesticides Residue Committee (and they tend to focus on problem crops).
Organic foods are more expensive to produce so they cost more, but the advantage is better health. To keep you healthy, it’s important to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals that can adversely affect your health. Today, many people have an overabundance of toxins in their bodies due to plastics, heavy metals and other compounds that are found in their foods. Many of these metals and other compounds can lead to a variety of forms of cancer. Sadly, many of the substances that were previously considered safe are now considered harmful to our bodies. These substances are found in GMO foods and foods that are labeled Non-GMO. Organic foods don’t have any of these compounds in them. Hormones added to foods can lead to higher levels of estrogen and cause lab rats to develop cancers. When combined with low levels of arsenic, which is often found in non organic foods, they have an even higher incidence of cancers.
Unless we choose organic foods, we’re exposing ourselves to harmful toxins that can cause a myriad of health issues at some point in our lives. Even canned foods can have contaminants in them from the lining of the can. It’s confusing to try and wander through the supermarket in search of healthy foods. It may seem if it’s in the supermarket it should be healthy but that’s rarely the case. Know where your organic foods come from and ask questions. Seek out Farmers Markets and ask questions when you’re purchasing foods.Whenever possible choose healthy food such as organic produce and grass-fed beef. Select free-range poultry as well as wild-caught fish at every opportunity. The bottom line, organic foods are foods that are grown with no added chemicals or growth hormones. There are no antibiotics and they are healthier. Remember, organic foods are more costly to produce and therefore more expensive to purchase. However, keep in mind that you can pay more for the organic foods, or you can pay more out in doctors bills.The debate on Organic foods vs GMO foods will be ongoing for many years to come. Meanwhile, choose your foods wisely and select foods that have no added chemicals or harmful antibiotics. Once you understand the difference between genetically modified foods and organic foods you’re sure to make the best selection of foods for your family. No one would willingly start down the path of eating chemicals and pesticides as well as added hormones. Shop organic and use less processed foods to ensure your family’s health. You’ll be healthier and pay less at the doctor’s office in the long run than those who choose other options. It’s an easy decision. Read labels, ask questions and when in doubt, don’t buy it.
Having examined the pros and cons of organic and GMO food. GMO food I have concluded that both organic and GMO food is both good for the environment. Although they have there pros and cons and the best way to produce healthy food efficiently would be a combination of their best features.
