GMOs not only help alleviate world hunger, but they do so in a safe way--contrary to popular belief. Many fast food chains are removing genetically modified foods from menus due to questionable safety of consumption and harm towards the environment. Take a look at Chipotle, for example. Sexton and Zilberman assert that "Chipotle's website blared that ‘cultivation of GMOs can damage the environment’ and that most studies of GMO safety were paid for by self-interested companies pedaling GMO seeds" (par. 2). Basically, Chipotle believes that the testing of GMO safety was paid off by seed companies who sell the modified seeds for the sole purpose of maximizing profits. While this is not case, Chipotle’s assumption only adds to the current Non-GMO movement. The Non-GMO movement is made up of individuals and groups who believe that using and consuming GMOs are both immoral and unsafe. Mitch Daniels, author of “Anti-GMO Arguments Are Immoral,” introduces the ignorance regarding the Non-GMO movement when he explains that a former Zambian president speaks on behalf of his country when he says that his people would rather die of hunger than eat toxic (genetically modified) food (par.8). This is a prime example of how the public is extremely misinformed about the safety of the food they consume. It also leads to a compelling point made by Van Montagu: "To note one irony: The extreme opposition to genetic modification has led to hyper-regulation of GM crops, which has raised the cost of bringing them to market" (par. 12). By placing such an importance on the opposition of GMOs, individuals are only causing more money to be spent on both proving the safety of GMOs and spending excess money on all organic or Non-GMO foods.
Argument
While the misinformation about GMOs continues to plague the world, it is evident from studying the history of farming that GMOs have been around since the beginning of time. Chien offers in her essay that "humans have been genetically modifying food since the beginning of agriculture and there are now various methods to safely genetically engineer thanks to new science" (par. 15). The agricultural industry is one of constant change and advancement; it has been this way since the beginning. Agriculturalists and farmers are always looking for new ways to more efficiently produce products to feed the world--hence the increase of GMO usage. Brester backs Chien’s claim when he says, "[They] should have looked back 60 years during all the changes that have boosted productions, advancement in mechanized farming that reduced labor and fertilizer, and soil management" (qtd. in Lutey par. 11). It can be argued that the increase in crop production can be linked to technological advancements as well as to better soil-management practices. Therefore, the use of GMOs not only boosts production, but also helps scientists create new technology to better farming methods and help soil management. Contrary to public belief, GMOs are completely safe. In all the years of use, no significant health issues have been reported. To tie everything back together, Sexton and Zilberman explain how more than two decades of research prove the legitimacy of consumption as well as global sustainability and hunger alleviation (par.1). GMOs are imperative to all aspects of food production, and government agencies have proven this. Sexton and Zilberman note, "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration--charged specifically with ensuring our food safety--the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the European Commission, the U.S. National Academies of Science and the American Medical Assn. are just a few that have declared GMOs safe" (par. 3). Government agencies such as these have proven that GMOs are safe. Also, biotech companies can confidently attest to the safety of their product; Karen Batra claims that the consensus, from a science perspective, is that GMOs are not an issue. Any food containing GMOs is just as safe as their organic counterparts (qtd. in Chien par. 36). The Monsanto Corporation proves this when they write, “Since GM crops were first commercialized in 1996 (1996-2012), regulatory agencies in 59 countries have conducted extensive scientific reviews and affirmed the safety of GM crops with 2,497 approvals on 319 different GMO traits in 25 crops. The majority (1,129) of approvals on GM crops have been on the food safety of the product” (par.12). Basically, Monsanto, along with other biotech companies as well as scientists, believe that GMOs are not only ethical but are also safe to consume.