GMO’S–GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISIMS
WHAT ARE GMO’S?
GMO’S are crops that have been produced through genetic engineering. By using biotechnology, you can take a desired trait and transfer it from one plant or organism to another plant or organism.
Some desirable traits that can be transferred include
-insect resistance
-drought tolerance
-herbicide tolerance
-disease resistance
-enhanced nutrition content
WHAT GMO CROPS ARE PRODUCED IN THE US?
-Corn
-Soy
-Sugar Beets
-Canola
-Cotton
-Alfalfa
-Papaya
-Potatoes
-Squash
WHAT HARM MIGHT GMO’S CAUSE?
-Allergens may unintentionally get into the food supply
-Plants may become tolerant to herbicides, increasing the use of chemicals
-Pests may become resistant to GMO crop toxins, which would increase the use of insecticides
-Toxins of GMO crops may harm other non-target insects, thus impacting the food chain
WHERE ARE GMO’S ALLOWED?
Some counties such as Russia and Peru, do not allow the cultivation or import of GMO’S. Many European countries allow the import, but not the cultivation, of GMO’s. The United States and Canada allow both cultivation and import of GMO’s.
ARE GMO’S LABELED?
In 2016 Congress passed a law that provides for some form of labeling staring in 2018. In the meantime the best way to know if a food is GMO-free is if the United States Department of Agriculture has certified the food to be organic (the label will say “USDA Organic”) or if the not-for-profit Non-GMO Project has certified the food to be non-GMO (the label will say “Non-GMO Project Verified”).