The Franken-Plant: GMO Part 2

So where were we? Of yes! We talked about some of the potential risk factors of GM foods, but let’s get into the nitty-gritty:

• Loss of locally adapted seeds. Seeds that are unique to the endogenous area carry characteristics unique to that region due to cross pollination. The result is that creation of strains with advantageous qualities for that area. GM creates a standardized seed. The result: Lack of variety. Not only is variety the spice of life, but it’s also the primary way we can get various nutrients and anti-oxidants.
• Plants genetically modified to withstand pests and climate changes are less resilient, and have a decreased detoxifying effect than traditional plants. Reason being, they've never had to fight to survive. It’s similar to how evolution adapts organisms so unnecessary features are lost (like how humans don’t have a tail anymore.) These plants have lost their detoxifying quality since it's no longer needed.
• Genetically modified seeds can be copyrighted, and copyrighted seeds can be controlled by the seed producer. The result, a monopoly such as the one Monsanto has on soy beans which doesn't allow farmers to save seeds from season to season (they must buy new seeds every year) and will sue if the conglomerate suspects that their seeds have been cross pollinated (even if by accident due to cross winds from adjacent farms). The result here: Farmer’s profits severely reduced.
• Our organs have been designed to breakdown food with specific genetic properties. Drastic changes in the DNA of our produce throws off our system, increasing digestion problems and allergies. Increased GMO in our diet has been shown to be a major contributing factor to the sudden rise in irritable bowel disease and various food allergies (like peanut allergy more than doubling since the late 90's.)
• Our livestock’s feed is also genetically modified. The animals as a result have digestive issues, tumors and nutritional deficiencies. Even more disheartening, animals that have been genetically altered much like plants, emphasizing more desirable qualities. Chickens breed to grow larger breasts to produce more breast meat are just one example. Cows that are bread to produce more milk (at this point I will hold off discussing the use of hormone injections to induce milk production.) Calves bred to have a higher fat content to produce more tender veal. The meat and dairy products they produce is not what our body readily accepts as food.

Let's play devil’s advocate and say that according to Darwin, our bodies are built to adapt and evolve. That if we continue to consume modified foods, those people whose systems can thrive on the new food will live to reproduce. Great, if you're the lucky part of the population that makes it. But how many generations will it take for the majority to adjust? And who's to say that the industry and the science will stop making changes? Like a rabbit chasing the proverbial genetically-modified-carrot.

I don't know about you, but I'm OK with not testing Darwin's evolutionary theory, at least not at the expense of my family's health or my own. I would rather go back to traditional farming practices and not test the waters. The problem is that the companies who manufacture GMO products can profit much more from the patenting of seeds and bullying farmers into using the intellectual property. Good for big business, bad for farmers and consumers.

So how do we fight back? Simple: buy organic! Whenever possible buy from local farms and farmer’s markets that use traditional growing practices.  Recently the FDA decided food manufacturer were not required to label their products as GMO. So you will have to be more diligent in your shopping. Look for labels that say "Non-GMO" at your grocery store when you purchase soy, corn, canola and dairy products. These four products are currently being genetically modified, but in the future I’m sure more will be included. Maybe you can check your local coffee shop's soy milk; is it GMO? Ask the manager if they'd consider switching. The most effective way to create a change is to vote with your wallet.

The Franken-Plant: GMO Part 1

I envision an evil scientist in a lab. Lightning and thunder strike on an eerie night. The full moon radiates through the breaks in the threatening thunder clouds. He holds up his test tube containing the genetic material of the first strain of genetically modified plant and lets out a deep, gut wrenching laugh in celebration of his success. He's created a monster, the birth of the Franken-plant.

The development of the first genetically modified plant strains, back in the 60’s, was intended to help farmers loose less crops to environmental concerns such as frost bite, pests and other threats. Crops that could be more resilient would yield a larger crop. Scientists were trying to develop super-strains that would be more likely to survive and produce a more lucrative crop for farmers. Well intentioned science, but like Frankenstein, it would eventually get out of control.

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO, are any organism (plant or otherwise) that have been engineered by recombinant DNA technology resulting in an alteration of its genes. Generally, these changes produce a more favorable strain, eliminating weaknesses and enhancing favorable properties such as size, color and flavor. For example, in the 60's tomato farmers began to harvest their crops with more mechanical equipment rather than hand picking. Agricultural scientists created a strain that was more resilient, less easily bruised and damaged, by the new, more aggressive harvesting techniques. 

In more recent years, Franken-plant has reared its head in the genetic modification of crops that would withstand damaging pesticides. Herbicide tolerant GMO crops now comprise the majority of the US crops. Roundup is a trade name for an herbicide used to kill weeds. Roundup Ready seeds are created to withstand the spray with this pesticide; killing the weeds without harming the plant. Sounds appealing, but unfortunately it’s where the problem starts. The more herbicide-tolerant crops are planted, the more herbicide is used. The pesticides used lead to nutritional deficiencies, increasing quality concerns and potential health problems such as various types of cancer, irritable bowel disease and a slew of allergies.

But that’s just where it starts. In the next post, we'll see where GMO has brought us.