Twenty-Two years ago, the first GMO food was released. The Flavr Savr tomato, which was genetically altered to have a longer shelf life, was approved and sold to the public. This was just the first step of a long journey for GMO foods and their production. So what exactly is a GMO? A GMO is a genetically modified organism - the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. There has long been a debate over GMOs and whether or not they are harmful to the human body and environment.
GMO’s have come a long way since the Flavr Savr Tomato. In 1995, the first pesticide-producing crop was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after rigorous testing. About a year later, a crop called Bt corn was approved, and the majority of corn in the U.S. now has the Bt toxin gene. Additionally, crops have also been genetically engineered to …show more content…
GMO plants are more resistant to chemicals and pesticides. Because of the GMO’s resistance, chemicals tend to be used in excessive amounts in order to control pests and weeds. This excessive use of chemicals creates a condition in which the weeds and pests gradually build up a resistance, forcing farmers to use larger amounts of the chemicals or stronger, more toxic doses. With the use of high amounts of chemical, the environment is affected in many ways. For example, runoff from conventional farms can pollute water sources, ultimately causing a chain reaction in the environment. Humans, who are also part of the environment, are affected also. When humans intake GMO foods that have not been properly cleaned or products that have been doused in high amounts of chemicals, they are introducing many toxins that can be potentially harmful to their body. Roundup, for example, is linked with sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and
GMO’s have come a long way since the Flavr Savr Tomato. In 1995, the first pesticide-producing crop was approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency after rigorous testing. About a year later, a crop called Bt corn was approved, and the majority of corn in the U.S. now has the Bt toxin gene. Additionally, crops have also been genetically engineered to …show more content…
GMO plants are more resistant to chemicals and pesticides. Because of the GMO’s resistance, chemicals tend to be used in excessive amounts in order to control pests and weeds. This excessive use of chemicals creates a condition in which the weeds and pests gradually build up a resistance, forcing farmers to use larger amounts of the chemicals or stronger, more toxic doses. With the use of high amounts of chemical, the environment is affected in many ways. For example, runoff from conventional farms can pollute water sources, ultimately causing a chain reaction in the environment. Humans, who are also part of the environment, are affected also. When humans intake GMO foods that have not been properly cleaned or products that have been doused in high amounts of chemicals, they are introducing many toxins that can be potentially harmful to their body. Roundup, for example, is linked with sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and