By Nikhil Kumar, Fall 2019.

Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that have been genetically engineered or altered by inserting foreign genes from other plants or animals into their genetic code. This gives the original organism properties which are characteristic of another and are often favorable to the organism. [6] While plant and animal GMOs exist, GM plants in particular have raised a considerable amount of interest, not only among agricultural organizations and scientists but the general population as well. Within the United States, there are 10 different crops for which GMO variants are available, the most common being corn and soybean. [3] In fact, a scientific consensus now exists on the safety of GM food consumption, supported by scientists around the world. [2] However, this topic has become a matter of controversy, and in certain cases, the skepticism is well justified. In others, however, the opposition to GMOs has led to some extreme measures, leading to possibly disastrous consequences.

As mentioned before, a scientific consensus regarding the safety of GMOs exists, which is corroborated by multiple literature reviews. [2][11] Despite that, many groups have sought to oppose the existence of GMOs and in general cause public doubt in their validity. This has also affected commercial practice, as some companies have started labeling salt and water as non-GMO food. This, of course, is not possible, since, for an item of food to be a GMO, it must have genes to begin with. With instances like these occurring, it is easy to forget the potential of GMOs. From 1993 to 2006, papaya production in Hawaii fell by 50 percent, thanks to the deadly papaya ringspot virus. Hawaiian-born scientist, Dennis Gonsalves, attempted to combat this with the Rainbow papaya, a GM variety of papaya with resistance to the disease. Today, 90 percent of Hawaiian papaya production consists of GMOs. [4] Another notable, but tragic example is golden rice. Golden rice is a strain of genetically modified rice containing beta carotene, which is converted in humans to a valuable nutrient: vitamin A. While touted to cure nutrient deficiencies in third-world countries since the early 2000s, golden rice is still not available commercially almost 20 years later. [7] Similarly, many GMOs which could potentially be completely beneficial, such as drought-resistant crops for drought-prone states like California, have been met with fierce opposition. However, some of the claims made are surprisingly interesting and thought-provoking.

In 1996, “Roundup Ready” crops were introduced to the market by the large agricultural firm, Monsanto (now acquired by Bayer). [10] These “Roundup Ready” crops were intended to be resistant to the powerful pesticide, “Roundup”, also sold by Monsanto, in order to boost yield and protect the valuable crops from weeds without inflicting harm on the crops themselves. Their motives were pure…or so it seemed. Whenever a company creates a product designed to increase the use of another from the same company, it is a cause for concern. As such, a February 2019 study found that increased exposure to glyphosate-based weed killers causes a 41% increase in the risk of cancer. [12] Regardless of the validity of this study, many other studies indicate that glyphosate has a certain level of toxicity to a variety of organisms. Citing these risks, along with ethical concerns, major anti-GMO organizations have cropped up and actively criticize the usage of golden rice and other GMOs. One major organization which is guilty of this is the prominent international and environmental NGO Greenpeace, to whom 100+ Nobel laureates wrote a letter condemning their irrational behavior regarding GMOs. Of course, Greenpeace refused to admit its fault. [1] And while the opposition might not be such a bad thing, since agricultural exploitation is inherently wrong, sometimes things can go too far.

One of the most prominent arguments against the production and usage of GMOs for commercial purposes is the lack of research into the long-term effects of consumption of GM food. And that is an interesting claim, since it is thanks to the efforts of these anti-GMO organizations that research in GMOs has become very perilous. Scientists are beginning to buy into the public distrust toward GMOs and looking unfavorably into any research conducted toward transgenic or genetically engineered plants. Facing criticism and lack of funding from their superiors and the public, many are discouraged from even setting foot in the field of genetic modification. [9] Occasionally, this public backlash can go too far. Certain activists have even attacked and vandalized field trials of GMO research, such as the case of the Philippines golden rice trials being destroyed overnight by trampling. [8] Some forms of GMO destruction even include burning of fields where GMOs are suspected to be grown. [5] Many scientists consider that GM food – produced in a responsible manner – could exponentially increase yields in a world where the population is set to exceed 9 billion in a few decades: and this impediment to GMO research is highly juvenile. While GMOs are far from perfect, scientists should feel free to research anything, without the crippling fear of sabotage or hatred.

To conclude, it is true that massive corporations may seek to exploit technology such as GMOs solely for selfish gain. Consequently, it is also true that in some ways, GMOs may contain chemicals which could be unsuitable for long-term exposure to humans. However, the public is not in a position to ignore scientific claims and take independent and extreme forms of action. Scientists must be given liberty to perform research untouched by public opinion or corporate interests. GMOs could be the epicenter of another agricultural revolution and to reach that, we must support any research, for or against GMOs, to show that the work of these scientists is relevant and very much important. And finally, fulfilling our role as consumers, perhaps we could ponder a little the next time we go shopping, instead of purchasing anti-GMO salt.

1. Lallanilla, Marc. “What Are GMOs and GM Foods?” LiveScience, July 8, 2019. https://www.livescience.com/40895-gmo-facts.html.
2. “GMO Myths Vs. Facts.” GMO Answers. Accessed October 20, 2019. https://gmoanswers.com/gmo-myths-vs-facts.
3. Domingo, José L., and Jordi Giné Bordonaba. “A Literature Review on the Safety Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants.” Environment International 37, no. 4 (May 2011): 734–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2011.01.003.
4. Nicolia, Alessandro, Alberto Manzo, Fabio Veronesi, and Daniele Rosellini. “An Overview of the Last 10 Years of Genetically Engineered Crop Safety Research.” Critical Reviews in Biotechnology 34, no. 1 (2013): 77–88. https://doi.org/10.3109/07388551.2013.823595.
5. Held, Elizabeth. “How GMO Technology Saved the Papaya.” IFIC Foundation, October 10, 2018. https://foodinsight.org/how-gmo-technology-saved-the-papaya/.
6. Mayer, Jorge. “Golden Rice Project.” The Golden Rice Story. Accessed October 20, 2019. http://www.goldenrice.org/Content1-Who/who2_history.php.
7. “Monsanto History.” Monsanto. Accessed November 17, 2019. https://monsanto.com/company/history/.
8. Zhang, Luoping, Iemaan Rana, Rachel M. Shaffer, Emanuela Taioli, and Lianne Sheppard. “Exposure to Glyphosate-Based Herbicides and Risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Meta-Analysis and Supporting Evidence.” Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research 781 (February 2019): 186–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mrrev.2019.02.001.
9. Chow, Lorraine. “Greenpeace to Nobel Laureates: It’s Not Our Fault Golden Rice Has ‘Failed as a Solution’.” EcoWatch. EcoWatch, July 11, 2016. https://www.ecowatch.com/greenpeace-to-nobel-laureates-its-not-our-fault-golden-rice-has-failed-1896697050.html.
10. Mehta, Devang. “The Perils of GMO Research: a Scientist Speaks Out.” Alliance for Science, May 17, 2019. https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2018/05/perils-gmo-research-scientist-speaks/.
11. McGrath, Matt. “’Golden Rice’ GM Trial Vandalised in the Philippines.” BBC News. BBC, August 9, 2013. https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-23632042.
12. Kuntz, Marcel. “Destruction of Public and Governmental Experiments of GMO in Europe.” GM Crops & Food 3, no. 4 (July 24, 2012): 258–64. https://doi.org/10.4161/gmcr.21231.