So What?....Now What?

 When you hear the word GMO what comes to your mind? It is something that you are familiar with or is there more to learn? The last blog posts have been exclusively about GMO’s and how they are viewed both negatively and positively. So why does it matter? How does what you know change your actions or food choices? There is so much information still available to study and learn about, so really this is just the tip of the iceberg in learning about GMO’s. 

Even with opposition, it is pretty obvious that GMOs aren’t going to go away any time soon. Whether or not we like it, each of us will be affected one way or another by GMO’s. By 2050 it is expected to have the need to produce 70% more food to feed the world (Naam, 2014). This is going to require that the food being produced is resistant to insects, anddrought, and have an increase in nutrient availability. In richer countries citizens, can be more creative and selective with their food sources. They will have the ability to choose organic foods or non GMO foods but in poor countries there is a need for these foods. In places like India where pesticides cost a whole lot and aren’t as available these GM crops are fulfilling the needs for farmers (Naam, 2014).  Whether you are for or against GMO production, the research that has been done on their benefits show that they are no different from other foods and do not contain harmful substances (Modern Ag, 2017). The scientist working on these foods are feeding the same foods to their families and to themselves, why would they allow something that is harmful on the market? 

But the question about the future of GMO’s is still there. Is there a potential for something harmful to end up in the food chain from lack of conscious attention? Right now, we are right in the middle of elections for individuals who will hopefully listen to the voice of the people and run the country accordingly. As the number one food source to the world we each have a say in who is elected and it is so important that we play a role in selecting people who will put laws in place the require regulations of foods before they hit the market both here and in foreign countries. We each need to take a stand in making sure that genetically modified foods go in the right direction and continue to be a good part of food technology instead of a regret. It is important that we are informed and that we do our research from valid sources. It is important that we look at both sides of the argument from several different angles to understand what is really at stake. We need to be proactive on every side of the food network. 

Works Cited

Modern Ag. (2017, February 1). The Science Inside a GMO Seed. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from Modern Ag: https://modernag.org/innovation/the-science-inside-gmo-seeds/?gclid=CjwKCAjw9qfZBRA5EiwAiq0AbVb37YjSD4QmyuRQpx6_5QxHzUjH1gu-g9-bnolu_UqDhyJWvr1schoCIOkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Naam, R. (2014, January 22). Why GMO's matter- especially for the dveloping world. Retrieved June 22, 2018, from Grist: https://grist.org/food/why-gmos-do-matter-and-even-more-to-the-developing-world/

GMO Labeling Law

Can you think of a law that was recently passed that affected your life personally? For years the government has passed laws that contributed to either life of leisure for some or heartache for others. This has especially been true for GMO's. They have become a hot topic on Capital hill over the last little while and have divided many groups of people on what should be done in regard to labeling, documentation, and even if genetically modifying food should be legal. There is one particular law recently have has had a major impact on GMO production. 

This law came about when GMOs became more abundant on the market and several companies and groups began to question the safety of these foods. Pressure began for the government to require companies to label any foods that contain GMO’s. This process took some time while scientist studied the safety of these foods and eventually found no difference between the GMO foods and non GMO foods (Charles, 2016). This didn’t seem convincing enough. The pressure continued to come, eventually lead to the passing of the GMO labeling law (Lynas, 2016).

Back in July of 2016 President Obama passed a law that required that genetically modified organisms be labeled (USDA, 2018). This required that any foods that contain GMO ingredients would be labeled or have a QR code that would tell consumers if it contains GMOs. Although imported foods don’t have the same requirement. This would require additional information from foreign producers so that the foods can be labeled properly (Poinski, 2017).

I would imagine that questions about GMOs will not end any time soon and the government will continue to be involved. This just requires that citizens of the United States continue to be involved in selecting good leaders for our country that have our best interest in mind. 

Worked Cited:

Charles, D. (2016, July 16). Congress just passed a GMO lableing bill. No ones super happy about it.Retrieved June 17, 2018, from The Salt:Whats on your plate: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/07/14/486060866/congress-just-passed-a-gmo-labeling-bill-nobodys-super-happy-about-it

Lynas, M. (2016, May 23). The GMO debate is over.Retrieved June 17, 2018, from Alliance for Science : https://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/2016/05/gmo-safety-debate-is-over/

Poinski, M. (2017, June 7). USDA on GMO Labeling Law: Still on track but alittle behind.Retrieved June 17, 2018, from Food Dive: https://www.fooddive.com/news/usda-on-gmo-labeling-law-still-on-track-but-a-little-behind/444383/

USDA. (2018, March 6). Labeling of food derived from Genetically Engineered Plants.Retrieved from US Department of Health and Human Services: https://www.fda.gov/Food/IngredientsPackagingLabeling/GEPlants/ucm346858.htm

Word on the Street

Imagine you are sitting in a tee-pee with a story teller of your tribe as he tells you stories that have been passed down from generation to generation. He tells you about moving from place to place, the art of finding and using buffalo as a resource, and many more stories. His stories can be described as folklore. Folklore is described as something that is handed down from generation to generation, usually not written down. Folklore can be looked at as being old and from the past, but in reality our way of life contributes to folklore and how the future generations see the world. I came across this short clip from the Jimmy Kimmel show that is an example how folklore can be passed from individual to individual. While Jimmy Kimmel's show wouldn't be considered folklore itself what he is asking these individuals on the street is a good example. This particular clip, his crew is asking the public what GMO's are and why they avoid them.  His findings are comical and interesting. 

After watching this short video I found myself answering the questions that Jimmy Kimmel asks. I found that a lot of my understanding has come from what I have heard in my own family and peer group. As I have studied the topic I have found that some of the information that I heard from these individuals are true and some of it is more personal opinion from whomever I was talking too. I came to realize how important it is that we check our sources and not believe everything we hear about a topic because it could possibly not be true. The information about GMO's is a great example of skewed ideas and often incorrect information passed from one individual to another. A recent study has shown that 43% of Americans could correctly identify what genetically modified foods are (Branson, 2013). I would imagine that a lot of the perceptions of these individuals come from what they hear from friends and acquaintances.  GMO's have become information passed from around and in a way, turned into its own folklore, as the idea goes from person to person. Whether that information is true or false, it will continue on its way through history and continue to be told from generation to generation. 

Worked Cited:

Branson, K. (2013, November 1). Most Americans Pay Little Attention to Genetically Modfied Foods, Survey Says. Retrieved June 8, 2018, from Rutgers Today: https://news.rutgers.edu/research-news/most-americans-pay-little-attention-genetically-modified-foods-survey-says/20131101#.Wxq_-C_MzMI

Kimmel, J. (2014, October 9). What a GMO? Jimmy Kimmel Live. Los Angles , CA, USA.

From a Farmers Perspective

Imagine farming back in the early 1900's. A lot of farmers used horse drawn equipment and a lucky few had machinery to help with their work. Towards the middle of the century there was an increase in machinery use, but farmers still relied on farm hands to get a lot of their work done. The main focus of these farmers at the beginning was to feed their families; however, as time went on and demands changed, a select few continued in agriculture and farming to produce food for a growing world. They had a big responsibility of feeding the world. Norman Borlaug said "Civilization as it is known today could not have evolved nor can it survive without an adequate food supply."  By the year of 2050, the world’s population is expected to raise to 9.7 billion people (York, 2015). With that increase in population there will have to be an increase in food supply but since the 1970's there has been a sharp decline in farms in the United States resulting in currently only 2.1 million operating farms (USDA, 2018). So the man power on farms in the United States has changed from physical man power to mechanical and technological. The farmers that run the farms today have to be more sustainable then before. Kevin Rogers, an Arizona farmer said" Sustainability is a world not often associated with GMOs in popular press, but farmers who grow GMO crops see them as a tool for sustainable farming (Manager,2018)." GMO crops have become the solution for many famers that find they can produce double the crop on half the land. Using GMO crops that are resistant to insects and droughts have allowed them to produce crops using less pesticides and other harmful substances. This has equally helped the soils that these crops are planted in. Katie Pratt, an Illinois farmer, stated that they have greatly reduced the amount of insecticide that needs to be sprayed, and they only need to treat the weeds at one point, not several times over a growing season. Her soil has now improved (Manager, 2018). She isn't the only one that has seen these results. There are many examples of farmers that have used GMO crops and seen an increase sustainability and decrease in production cost. With this increase in GMO use and decrease in production needs, the man power behind farming has significantly decreased. Early on in farming there was a large need required to plow the field, keep the insects at bay, and control the weeds, but what is required now is the knowledge to propagate, in keeping the crops alive, and keeping the soil healthy to receive these crops. Man power in farming is in a way moving away from the fields and towards the lab where a lot of work is done to produce GMO seeds with a larger range of propagation options. Farmers are changing in the way they do their job. They work hard to produce an adequate food supply for the world in the most productive way they can. That's real man power.  

References 

Johnson, M. (2014, April 25). GMOs- From a Farmers Perspective. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from U.S.News Health: https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/04/25/gmos-from-a-farmers-perspective

Manager, C. (2018). Why do Farmers Use GMOs?Retrieved June 2, 2018, from GMO Answers: https://gmoanswers.com/why-do-farmers-use-gmos-0

Power, C. (2015, August 9). How to Make a GMO. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from SITN: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/how-to-make-a-gmo/

Schmidt, J. (2015, December 22). A Farmers Letter to a Concern Student About GMOs. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2015/12/22/farmers-letter-to-concerned-student-about-gmos/#c566cfb25f93

The Science Inside A GMO Seed. (2017, February 1). Retrieved June 2, 2018, from Modern Ag: https://modernag.org/innovation/the-science-inside-gmo-seeds/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwgMnYBRDRARIsANC2dfm6fSvCQuI31h6edG6ZH_tf4Kvb0beTeCWlzHrGuzvCk95ESaZ3lNIaAnJWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

USDA. (2017, July 12). Recent Trends in GE Adoption. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from USDA: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspx

USDA. (2018, February 7). Farming and Farm Income. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from USDA: https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/farming-and-farm-income/

York, N. (2015, July 29). World Population Projected to Reach 9.7 billion by 2050. Retrieved June 2, 2018, from United Nations Department of Economics and Social affairs: http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/news/population/2015-report.html