What Are the Pros and Cons of GMOs?

Longer shelf life

Foods that have been genetically modified tend to have a longer shelf life. Since these foods can be modified in a number of ways, they can last longer than organic foods and can be grown to withstand harsher weather conditions.

More crops

When it comes to growing genetically modified foods, farmers are able to grow more crops even in harsh environments. Since technology can alter the foods so that they can grow better in specific environments and to have more resistance to insects. This means farmers will often yield a larger crop at the end of the season.

Can be modified to provide additional nutritional value

Genetically modified foods can be created to include additional nutritional benefits. Vitamins and minerals can be added to help reduce common deficient around the world. Countries that suffer from malnutrition can benefit from GMO foods because they add more nutrients into their daily diets.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Growing more GMO crops can be beneficial to the environment. Because there are fewer chemicals used to grow the crops and less machinery is used to harvest the crops, there are fewer pollutants entering the environment. Also, because crops have a better chance of surviving through harsh climates, there is less land that needs to be used to yield a large crop.

Be used to create vaccines

When it comes to the pros and cons of GMOs, one of the key pros is that plants can be modified to create certain vaccines. In a process called 'pharming', scientists have altered plants to include more and various proteins that can help cure or treat a number of health issues.

​Increase in food allergies

With the increase of GMOs, there has also been an increase of food allergies, especially in children. Because some of the modification made to these foods involves taking strands of DNA from other foods, more people are becoming allergic to more foods. For instance, those who are allergic to the protein in Brazilian nuts will have an allergic reaction to other GMOs foods that contain this strain of protein.

Increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria

There has been an increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria which have a deadly toll on many people. One of the causes for this increase can be due to the fact that GMO foods are produced with antibiotic resistant genes to help the groups grow.

Hurt the farmers crops

There are strict restrictions on farmers when it comes to growing their crops using any of the GMO seeds from the companies that own the patents to these seeds. Even if there is accidental cross contamination with GMO seeds and a farmer's crop, the farmers will have to pay a large royalty to be able to sell off what they produce.

GMO seed market is under limit control

When it comes to the pros and cons of GMOs, there is a major debate in who owns the GMO seeds. There are only 6 companies that control the GMO seed market; the most notable is Monsanto. What this means is that farmers are not able to just work for themselves to provide for their families, they have to pay a fee to one of these 6 companies before they can sell any crops they yield. As mentioned in the previous point, this includes farmers who do not want to grow GMO plants but end up having some seeds cross pollinate with theirs.

Harmful to the environment

While there may be less gas emission when growing genetically modified foods, there is also a downside to altering a plant's genetic makeup. The most damaging thing is that almost all GMO foods are resistant to herbicides when these GMO foods cross bred with other plants, like weeds, then there is little that can be done to rid the weeds from the crops. This eventually makes it more difficult to grow these plants and will only lead to need of making additional modifications to these plants.

Do not boost the economy

Many have the misconception that growing more GMO crop will benefit the economy, but this isn't true. GMO crops take just as long and hard work to harvest as organic crops, so it does not save time to grow these crops. And because of the profit, the GMO seed companies don't allow farmers to earn more when trying to grow these crops.

Why is it important to understand these pros and cons of GMOs? There are many things and people affected by the increase of GMO crops and you may benefit more from the increase or you may suffer more as in different areas. Whether you are for or against GMOs, it is something that for many years will cause debates and disagreements. So what's your idea now?