Just in case you haven’t hear specifically of GMOs, it basically means organisms that have been genetically modified by humans. Which I have noticed have developed a bad reputation over the years. People actively try to purchase groceries that claim to be GMO free, however do they really know why?
Since GMO means genetically modified organism, selective breeding is a type of GMO. The domestication of different fruits and vegetables over the years, for example was through selective breeding hence they are GMOs.
Business Insider released a video showing the evolution of different fruits and vegetables before and after humans intervened through selective breeding. Which you might guess by watching the video, today’s fruits and vegetables are much more convenient.
“Here’s what fruits and vegetables looked like before we domesticated them”
Other types of GMOs can be found in multiple types of dog breeds. Among these; French bulldogs, Bull terriers, Boxers, German Shepherd and Pugs.
Yes, cute little pugs are GMOs. However, dog breeds are not the best example of how great GMOs are. The selective breeding benefits humans, making dogs more convenient to take care of, however is not the best for dogs . For example, French bulldogs can’t mate or give birth naturally, their hips are too slim for both activities. French bulldogs are made in a laboratory through artificial insemination, and all females have a cesareans.
However don’t let dog breeds give GMOs a bad rep. Humans actively love, and demand these breeds.
Finally, the last GMO example I really wanted to discuss is golden rice. Deficiency in Vitamin A is estimated to kill 670,000 children under the age of 5 each year. The Golden Rice projected created a GMO of of white rice, whose purpose is to feed low income families who were being affected by this problem. Golden rice has significantly more Vitamin A. Rice is a common food low income families eat everyday, by replacing rice with golden rice, this GMO is estimate to aid nutritional problems all over the world.
Consequently, are GMOs really to be avoided? Is the problem with GMOs the use humans give them?
When I started reading, I thought you would show a very “Vancouver based” opinion about GMO’s. ITs really nice to have a new intake on GMO’s, it kind of gives you back hope!
Human scientific developments are not always for the worst, they are actually normally for the better. Like the example of the golden rice, its a simple change that can help people in need. However, corporate interests, driven only by profits and production have developed some awful patterns that have affected farmers worldwide (India is a special case: http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-seeds-of-suicide-how-monsanto-destroys-farming/5329947).
It would be great to see GMO companies build a Blue Ocean strategy based on helping communities and agriculture, rather than only focusing in the product, and not what comes after it.
This was a great intake on a different point of view on food industry!
GMOs have been widely debated for a long time. Although I do believe that it can bring more satisfactory goods and increase economic efficiency, the “natural” aspect of these GMOs has been taken away. Though they are still natural processes that happen, they do not happen under natural behaviour and circumstances that they were supposed to have operated under. I think at the end of the day, it needs to point back to the triple bottom line and whether or not GMOs align with the vision for people, planet, and profit.