GMOs aren’t all bad, offer helpful alternative to food waste

GMOs often get a bad rap, but they could be the key to food security and decreasing our overall food waste.

GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, are an advancement in agricultural biotechnology. According to the FDA, GMOs are made by modifying the genetic material (DNA) of an organism using technology. While this can sound scary, the application of GMOs is a lot less freaky than it sounds. For example, corn is the most common crop grown in the U.S. According to the FDA, 92% of all the corn grown in the U.S. in 2020 was genetically modified—specifically, the genetic modification used in corn is to repel pests or create resistance to herbicides.

Instead of having to spray an insecticide that can target both beneficial and non-beneficial insects, GMO corn can produce the natural defenses against these non-beneficial insects and leave the beneficial insects be. In the U.S., many common crops are genetically modified (soybeans, cotton, alfalfa), and there are even steps being taken to create GMO animal products (AquAdvantage Salmon). A lot of the GMO-produced foods are used to feed livestock or made into biofuels instead of coming straight to our dinner tables.

However, many fear that the effects of GMOs can be negative and have an impact on human health. The FDA has a program called “Feed Your Mind,” which covers many questions, concerns and information about GMOs in our food and agriculture. They affirm that GMOs have many positive benefits, ranging from long-lasting apples that don’t brown when cut into to papayas that can resist plant viruses. They also affirm the fact that genetic material that is modified does not pass on into the consumer—your cows are not going to become pesticide-resistant just because they ate pesticide-resistant corn.

The fear around this process comes from a lack of understanding the science and misinformation. Genetic modification is not a perfect practice yet, but advances are being made everyday with technology. No matter what the opinion on GMOs may be, there is scientific basis in being able to use GMOs to reduce food waste and solidify food security, which will benefit everyone. Once again, the FDA has a good outreach program explaining the processes, benefits and disadvantages of GMOs through “Feed Your Mind,” along with lists of genetically modified foods grown in the U.S.