Hello Meghan,
This is a response to a recent article you wrote called “Americans must fight against GMOs.” Although I respect your opinion and the opinion you’re supporting from environmentalist groups, I am questioning how well you know the topic of GMOs. I agree that corporate control over our food system has a debilitating influence over the choices we make while shopping and brings intense lawsuits over cross-pollination with non-GMO crops.
I notice a lack of thorough study of the topic in your article. It seems as though the majority of the information comes from biased environmentalist groups.
When you mentioned the restriction of GMOs in the European Union, you failed to note how many GMO crops the European Union imports. The scientific article “Paradoxical EU Agricultural Policies on Genetically Engineered Crops” lists several discrepancies of EU agriculture. Although they may seem to be pure agriculturalists and uphold the traditionalist and novelistic agricultural way, there are several discrepancies. For example, the EU has banned many pesticides, but approves the import of food products treated with banned chemicals.
In addition, more than 80 percent of the EU imports come from producers of genetically engineered (GE) crops, with 39 GE crops authorized for import, but only two (one food crop) for cultivation. Member states do not allow their own farmers to grow GE crops even if they are identical to imported varieties.
Next, why are there no hard science examples about the link between GMOs and cancer rates? The article would be more credible if there was a specific link between a genetically modified plant and its cause of particular cancer.
What I don’t see is the benefits of GMOs. GMOs can benefit the environment through reduced pesticide/herbicide applications – which are notorious for polluting and diminishing water quality – and ecological services they provide. In addition, crop plants are now capable of growing under conditions of drought and salt conditions. Those conditions are projected with climate change.
A biotechnologist and UW professor is creating a drought-resistant and salt-tolerant grape to grow in Wyoming. That is pretty outstanding seeing how vineyards and table grape production are expected to decrease 81 percent with projections.
Yes, it is important to err on the side of caution when messing with nature. And yes, I agree that corporate agriculture should not be dominating our food systems. However, I do not agree with portraying GMOs as some sort of detriment to our society. There are many things that cause cancer. To boot, people still smoke or chew tobacco even know they know of the risk.
What if we could take better care of our soils, our pollinators or any number of species by using GMOs? How about designing better agricultural models (and perhaps using GMOs in sustainable models) instead of corporate-dominated monocultures?
I don’t really think there is this huge secret about GMOs. I think that the majority of people are uneducated on the topic, and are persuaded by propaganda and loaded emotional statements.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Bailey Hallwachs
University of Wyoming
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
