Gmos Bad

Genetically modified organisms, a complex substance, have stirred up a global argument that is as equally complex. With people on both sides of the argument, who are firm believers in their opinion, it is hard to choose which opinion to believe in. It is important for the public to understand that “GM technology adds desirable traits from nature, without introducing anything unnatural or using chemicals, so that food is more plentiful” (“The Facts about GMOs”). The everyday person has a common misconception that genetically modified organisms are bad for humans and the environment because of the bad reputation that the non-scientific world gives them. The World Health Organization is cited saying, “Genetically modified foods are “foods derived

In most cases, people believe the information that is readily available to them. So, no wonder most people think that GMOs are bad for them and the environment. A study on the public view and the scientific view of genetically modified organisms showed that “The American public remains divided on the issue of genetic modification. A 2014 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 57 % of 2002 respondents consider genetically modified organisms generally unsafe. In comparison, 88% of 3748 scientists consider GMOs generally safe” (Mintz 1). Usually, people hear something about a topic and that is it, what they hear is what they believe. Companies that produce food that are genetically modified and scientists that believe in the use of GMOs do not go out of their way to show the public the years of research that have gone into proving that genetically modified organisms are in fact safe for humans and the environment. Therefore, the companies who are against the use of genetically modified organisms, such as the Non-GMO Project, are the ones the public believe because they campaign on their ideas that GMOs are unsafe. It is the fault of stakeholders, such as Monsanto and General Mills, for the misconception of the public regarding genetically modified

But, to combat this problem people, such as Bill Gates and Borut Bohanec (who are well versed in GMO knowledge and the real-world implications these organisms possess) have tried to spread their expertise on the topic through different platforms. In a conference with students and faculty at UC Berkeley, Bill Gates illustrates the good that can come from using genetically modified organisms such as GM seeds. Furthermore, he explains that GMOs have less of an environmental impact than is publicized. The use of these genetically modified seeds requires less insecticides and allows for more crop to be made on a plot of land without having to dig up more land for planting (“Bill Gates tackles controversy over genetically-modified crops at UC Berkeley.”). He even goes as far as to explain how his foundation uses these GM seeds to help feed and provide nutrition to people in Africa. Borut Bohanec explains in his TEDx Talk that the use of genetically modified rice as crops in places with high levels of phosphorus increased the yield of this healthy rice crop (“GMO controversies - science vs. public fear: Borut Bohanec at TEDxLjubljana”). Their research as well as the research conducted by world-wide environmental and human health organizations supports the facts that GMOs are not harmful to humans or the