Gmos Consequences

Consequences of GMOs

In past years, genetically modified organisms also known as GMOs have replaced our diets with genetically altered foods, which have adversely affected the health of humans and local communities. GMOs are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic engineering, or GE) (EFSA). GMOs have been around for many years; it wasn’t until just recently that most people have become more and more concerned about them. Consuming these genetically altered and processed foods can lead to increased risk
One of the “pros” of genetically modified organisms is how cheap the outcome is. An example is a company called Monsanto; “The sole purpose of the GMO based company Monsanto is to produce an unbelievable amount of seeds, genetically modified of course, and ship them to places with food insecurity.” (Meghan Noga) For centuries, farmers have had plenty of issues with pests ruining their crops, but now genetically modified foods are programmed with pest resistant fertilizers, which make it cheaper to grow because farmers no longer need to pay for the fertilizers separate, and they also do not have to pay people for spreading the fertilizers
For example, corporations like Delta & Pine Land Co. developed a gene cleverly called the “Terminator Gene” (Organic Foods). The “Terminator Gene” is a set of genes in seeds that automatically commit suicide after each growing season so that the farmers are not able to use seeds from the plants in the following season (Non-GMO). Instead, they would have to go back to the company that the farmers have bought them from and purchase more (The True Food Network). This means even more money comes out of the farmers’ pockets and goes into the bigger corporations. By not being able to save the seeds from the previous year, farmers struggle to keep their farms alive and have no way of returning to organic farming they had done previously