GMOs And Sustainability: Do Transgenic Crops Have A Part To Play In Our Future Food System?
Technologies. Can they be sustainable in and of themselves? The mid-1990s saw the introduction of GMO crops. They brought high yields, fewer pesticides, and a nutritional upgrade. Around the same time, the idea of sustainability picked up steam in several environmental and social fields. Since then, a debate has been raging over whether GMOs fit in a sustainable framework. This article will examine some of the issues that surround the topic of GMOs and sustainability.
Where We Are—Lots Of People Really Dislike GMOs
Environmental organizations like Greenpeace and several governments oppose the introduction of transgenic seeds, starting with insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops. In response to the dispute about GMOs in agriculture, the EU devised a regulatory structure that includes risk analyses and testing procedures. These regulations applied to agricultural production and food exports to European countries. In contrast, the U.S. did not require testing and assumed "substantial equivalency," thinking GMOs harmless until proven otherwise.
Sustainable Is Often A Vague Idea
"Sustainable" is a common phrase in scientific article titles. A quick search on Google Scholar yields over 100,000 results for sustainable agriculture since January 2021. Unfortunately, the term means many things to many different scientists. For our purposes, the 1987 Brundtland Report will suffice. It laid out the idea that a sustainable system meets present requirements without jeopardizing the future's ability to do so. This is the context within which we should consider whether GMOs are sustainable.
Sustainable GMO Papaya Is A Reality
In Hawaii, papaya tree farms suffered under the papaya ringspot virus (PRV) threat. Pesticides or nets couldn't halt its spread by impeding the insects that carried it. Therefore, the papaya cells received a sort of genetic coating that made them immune to the virus. Under the right circumstances, plants may be sensitized to a pathogen's coat protein, triggering an immune response similar to human vaccinations. GMO papaya was and is a success that can grow on any size farm. It reduces the need for pesticides and other harmful techniques to kill virus-carrying insects.
There Are Other Examples
Other possible uses of transgenic crops promote sustainability, such as genetically modified bacteria and plants to provide nitrogen-fixing properties to new species. We know that inorganic nitrogen fertilizers are environmental pollutants. They float from farms and pollute lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. In addition, excess nitrogen sources in water bodies promote dense plant growth and animal mortality from lack of oxygen.
One of the early biotechnology initiatives in the final part of the 20th century was turning non-nitrogen-fixing plants into fixers. This entailed genetically altering symbiotic microbes or plants with nitrogen-fixing genes. The process created new nitrogen-fixing plants to help sustainable agriculture.
Golden Rice is one GMO that improves nutrition without harming the environment. Scientists genetically engineered the rice genome to incorporate a vitamin A precursor. This product might help lower the global incidence of child blindness in vitamin A-scarce populations. In 2019, it was certified for use as human food in the Philippines. A cup of Golden Rice provides 50% of the USDA for vitamin A.
There Have Been Some Failures
Herbicide-tolerant crops were some of the earliest GMOs. Scientists created them relying on the idea that they would withstand herbicides used to eradicate weeds, notably glyphosate.
In 2015, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said glyphosate is a likely human carcinogen. Other research showed it is harmful to butterflies, quail, and frogs. This class of herbicides does not fulfill agricultural sustainability requirements due to its environmental and human consequences. Therefore, we cannot classify the GMOs designed to withstand glyphosate as sustainable.
Other GMOs Present Difficult Tradeoffs
Insects eat 37% of what's planted – a massive problem in our food system. In the mid-1970s, scientists found a compound in the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that encodes proteins that are toxic to many pests. Since the 1920s, farmers have been using natural Bt granules or liquid as a natural microbial pest control tool. Thus, Bt-transgenic crops were born.
The first authorized Bt crops were potatoes, maize, and cotton in 1995, and the procedure has modified many others since. Since hitting the market, they have replaced millions of pounds of chemical pesticides that would have been sprayed on fields and seeped into waterways. In this regard, Bt crops appear sustainable.
However, they have caused some issues. First, bugs developed resistance. Once insects could thrive on Bt crops, farmers had to employ other pesticides. Thus, plants were further genetically engineered to withstand a battery of viruses and toxins, endangering agriculture and the environment. The early advantages of decreased pesticide usage have waned. Organic farmers who used Bt sparingly when insects invaded their crops may no longer use it due to Bt-resistant insects.
GMOs Are Neither Inherently Sustainable Nor Unsustainable
Sustainable agriculture is a complex mixture of crops and farming techniques. A GMO crop's sustainability depends on how farmers employ it and its knock-on effects. One single crop or approach can render a sustainable system non-sustainable and vice versa. Sustainability ethics include choosing a system whose elements fit together to safeguard the environment for future generations.
Key Takeaways
- Study is Key – GMOs are everywhere, but not all of them are good for the environment. Crops that invite more glyphosates should be avoided but enjoy the papaya! Do what you can to learn which GMOs are helping and which are hurting.
- GMOs Are Likely Safe – Aside from glyphosate, there is very little evidence that GMOs harm our health. However, if you are not going to avoid them but still worry a bit, try to live a healthy lifestyle with frequent exercise and a good diet free of processed foods.
- Certified Organic Can Help – Opt for organic foods if you want to avoid GMOs. At this point, genetically modified foods are ineligible for the Certified Organic label.
Technologies. Can they be sustainable in and of themselves? The mid-1990s saw the introduction of GMO crops. They brought high yields, fewer pesticides, and a nutritional upgrade. Around the same time, the idea of sustainability picked up steam in several environmental and social fields. Since then, a debate has been raging over whether GMOs fit in a sustainable framework. This article will examine some of the issues that surround the topic of GMOs and sustainability.
Where We Are - Lots of People Really Dislike GMOs
Environmental organizations like Greenpeace and several governments oppose the introduction of transgenic seeds, starting with insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops. In response to the dispute about GMOs in agriculture, the EU devised a regulatory structure that includes risk analyses and testing procedures. These regulations applied to agricultural production and food exports to European countries. In contrast, the U.S. did not require testing and assumed "substantial equivalency," thinking GMOs harmless until proven otherwise.
Where We Are – Sustainable Is Often a Vague Idea
"Sustainable" is a common phrase in scientific article titles. A quick search on Google Scholar yields over 100,000 results for sustainable agriculture since January 2021. Unfortunately, the term means many things to many different scientists. For our purposes, the 1987 Brundtland Report will suffice. It laid out the idea that a sustainable system meets present requirements without jeopardizing the future's ability to do so. This is the context within which we should consider whether GMOs are sustainable.
Sustainable GMO Papaya Is a Reality
In Hawaii, papaya tree farms suffered under the papaya ringspot virus (PRV) threat. Pesticides or nets couldn't halt its spread by impeding the insects that carried it. Therefore, the papaya cells received a sort of genetic coating that made them immune to the virus. Under the right circumstances, plants may be sensitized to a pathogen's coat protein, triggering an immune response similar to human vaccinations. GMO papaya was and is a success that can grow on any size farm. It reduces the need for pesticides and other harmful techniques to kill virus-carrying insects.
There Are Other Examples
Other possible uses of transgenic crops promote sustainability, such as genetically modified bacteria and plants to provide nitrogen-fixing properties to new species. We know that inorganic nitrogen fertilizers are environmental pollutants. They float from farms and pollute lakes, rivers, streams, and aquifers. In addition, excess nitrogen sources in water bodies promote dense plant growth and animal mortality from lack of oxygen.
One of the early biotechnology initiatives in the final part of the 20th century was turning non-nitrogen-fixing plants into fixers. This entailed genetically altering symbiotic microbes or plants with nitrogen-fixing genes. The process created new nitrogen-fixing plants to help sustainable agriculture.
Golden Rice is one GMO that improves nutrition without harming the environment. Scientists genetically engineered the rice genome to incorporate a vitamin A precursor. This product might help lower the global incidence of child blindness in vitamin A-scarce populations. In 2019, it was certified for use as human food in the Philippines. A cup of Golden Rice provides 50% of the USDA for vitamin A.
There Have Been Some Failures
Herbicide-tolerant crops were some of the earliest GMOs. Scientists created them relying on the idea that they would withstand herbicides used to eradicate weeds, notably glyphosate.
In 2015, the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) said glyphosate is a likely human carcinogen. Other research showed it is harmful to butterflies, quail, and frogs. This class of herbicides does not fulfill agricultural sustainability requirements due to its environmental and human consequences. Therefore, we cannot classify the GMOs designed to withstand glyphosate as sustainable.
Other GMOs Present Difficult Tradeoffs
Insects eat 37% of what's planted – a massive problem in our food system. In the mid-1970s, scientists found a compound in the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that encodes proteins that are toxic to many pests. Since the 1920s, farmers have been using natural Bt granules or liquid as a natural microbial pest control tool. Thus, Bt-transgenic crops were born.
The first authorized Bt crops were potatoes, maize, and cotton in 1995, and the procedure has modified many others since. Since hitting the market, they have replaced millions of pounds of chemical pesticides that would have been sprayed on fields and seeped into waterways. In this regard, Bt crops appear sustainable.
However, they have caused some issues. First, bugs developed resistance. Once insects could thrive on Bt crops, farmers had to employ other pesticides. Thus, plants were further genetically engineered to withstand a battery of viruses and toxins, endangering agriculture and the environment. The early advantages of decreased pesticide usage have waned. Organic farmers who used Bt sparingly when insects invaded their crops may no longer use it due to Bt-resistant insects.
GMOs Are Neither Inherently Sustainable nor Unsustainable
Sustainable agriculture is a complex mixture of crops and farming techniques. A GMO crop's sustainability depends on how farmers employ it and its knock-on effects. One single crop or approach can render a sustainable system non-sustainable and vice versa. Sustainability ethics include choosing a system whose elements fit together to safeguard the environment for future generations.
Key Takeaways
- Study is Key – GMOs are everywhere, but not all of them are good for the environment. Crops that invite more glyphosates should be avoided but enjoy the papaya! Do what you can to learn which GMOs are helping and which are hurting.
- GMOs Are Likely Safe – Aside from glyphosate, there is very little evidence that GMOs harm our health. However, if you are not going to avoid them but still worry a bit, try to live a healthy lifestyle with frequent exercise and a good diet free of processed foods.
- Certified Organic Can Help – Opt for organic foods if you want to avoid GMOs. At this point, genetically modified foods are ineligible for the Certified Organic label.
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