The terms “organic” and “GMO” should be distinctly defined before they are compared between one another. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary database, the term organic is specified as “relating to, yielding, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides “ (1) - essentially a food product that is derived entirely from nature, with no man-made adjustments. The term GMO, also known as genetically modified organism or GM, is defined by the World Health Organization as “foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally,
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A primary reason that organic food is so expensive is due to the fact that a portion of organic food is grown on small farms, reliant on extra labor because organic foods do not contain the edited gene sequences that make them resilient to different ailments. Although planting a genetically modified seed may seem easier, the extra labor that goes into organic food is justifiable due to the fact that “these practices also provide pollination, pest and disease control, water purification, and erosion control . . [and] help to build healthy, productive soil,” (5). All of this sounds great, but another reason for the higher price of organic food is stated by USDA secretary Earl Butz, “get big or get out”; who also states that 70% of all family farms, in which many of them grow organic crops, are too small to be “monetarily worthwhile,” (6). To stay in business, these small farms face a dire situation - either grow organic crops and sell them for less in order to compete with the big businesses, or purchase GMOs from large …show more content…
The slightly higher prices can actually be beneficial to the consumer. Instead of focusing on the cost of just the organic product, the consumer should focus on their overall spendings and cut back on things that they do not need such as junk food or needless waste. The added cost will also encourage the consumer to waste less, and save more - whether it be in monetary terms or food itself. Overall, the slightly higher price of organic food is both a morally and economically smart decision.
A second comparison between organic foods and GMOs can be seen through their health benefits. Fruits and vegetables themselves are healthy, but a difference in benefits can be seen between the two.
Many GMOs are said to have “improved nutrition”, or added benefits - but these benefits are artificial due to the manual gene entry. Therefore, these artificial safety improvements are not as safe as one may think. Following the study on human genetics, or The Human Genome Project, scientists proved that the alterations of one gene actually alters many more that are in close proximity within the genetic coding of the organism (7). In simpler terms, Dr. Philip Bereano describes this process through the Lego Model - “You cannot take out a yellow piece and put in a green piece and call the structure identical because there are complex interactions that are still going to take place and be altered,” (7?).
A primary reason that organic food is so expensive is due to the fact that a portion of organic food is grown on small farms, reliant on extra labor because organic foods do not contain the edited gene sequences that make them resilient to different ailments. Although planting a genetically modified seed may seem easier, the extra labor that goes into organic food is justifiable due to the fact that “these practices also provide pollination, pest and disease control, water purification, and erosion control . . [and] help to build healthy, productive soil,” (5). All of this sounds great, but another reason for the higher price of organic food is stated by USDA secretary Earl Butz, “get big or get out”; who also states that 70% of all family farms, in which many of them grow organic crops, are too small to be “monetarily worthwhile,” (6). To stay in business, these small farms face a dire situation - either grow organic crops and sell them for less in order to compete with the big businesses, or purchase GMOs from large …show more content…
The slightly higher prices can actually be beneficial to the consumer. Instead of focusing on the cost of just the organic product, the consumer should focus on their overall spendings and cut back on things that they do not need such as junk food or needless waste. The added cost will also encourage the consumer to waste less, and save more - whether it be in monetary terms or food itself. Overall, the slightly higher price of organic food is both a morally and economically smart decision.
A second comparison between organic foods and GMOs can be seen through their health benefits. Fruits and vegetables themselves are healthy, but a difference in benefits can be seen between the two.
Many GMOs are said to have “improved nutrition”, or added benefits - but these benefits are artificial due to the manual gene entry. Therefore, these artificial safety improvements are not as safe as one may think. Following the study on human genetics, or The Human Genome Project, scientists proved that the alterations of one gene actually alters many more that are in close proximity within the genetic coding of the organism (7). In simpler terms, Dr. Philip Bereano describes this process through the Lego Model - “You cannot take out a yellow piece and put in a green piece and call the structure identical because there are complex interactions that are still going to take place and be altered,” (7?).