Genetically Modified (GM)

            Genetically modified organisms have attracted a large amount of media attention in past years due to the controversy that they can cause serious health risks.  However, foods that have been genetically modified are regulated by multiple government bodies such as the Food and Drug Agency (FDA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.^1-3Yet, the public continues to be largely unaware of what a genetically modified plant is and what advantages and disadvantages the technology offers.  

            The demand for food due to the rapid growing population and changes in eating habits continues to cause an increase in the demand for more food.⁴Unfortunately, in the developing world there are about 840 million people malnourished, surviving on less than 2,000 calories per day and about 1.3 billion people survive on less than $1 per day and do not have secure access to food.¹Therefore, making sure there is sufficient food to feed the estimated 9.7 billion people by 2050 and nearly 11 billion by 2100 is turning out to be one of the largest challenges of the era.⁴Genetically modified crops provide the ability to increase food and feed production by producing plants with higher yields in a shorter time period.^4,5Most of the crops planted in South Dakota are genetically modified, including 96% of soybeans and 97% of corn.³Many South Dakota soybean farmers choose to plant genetically modified crops because it helps them use less resources such as water, fuel, and fertilizer while still growing an abundance of food to feed the growing population.³Overall, the nutrition content between genetically modified crops and non-genetically modified crops are the same, the difference is in the genetic makeup of the seed. The biotechnology adds naturally existing genes into a plant to obtain a characteristic such as the capability of preventing insects.³This technology allows farmers to save energy and resources assuring us that genetically modified crops are not harmful to human health or the environment.

            Thankfully, most American’s are unaware of what starvation is due to living in a developed country.  However, individuals from undeveloped parts of the world do not have the same luxuries us American’s are provided.  Sadly, we are quick to judge and under educated on many of these controversial topics.  Until we know what starvation feels like, many of us will not understand the purpose of genetically modified organisms and the benefits they provide to feeding our growing population.   

References

1.         Key S, Ma JK, Drake PM. Genetically modified plants and human health. J R Soc Med. 2008;101(6):290-298.

2.         McKeon TA. Genetically modified crops for industrial products and processes and their effects on human health. Trends in Food Science & Technology. 2003;14(5-8):229-241.

3.         Hungry for Truth. GMOs. 2019.https://hungryfortruthsd.com/topics/gmo/.

4.         Kamle M, Kumar P, Patra JK, Bajpai VK. Current perspectives on genetically modified crops and detection methods. 3 Biotech. 2017;7(3):219.

5.         Guardian. Plants modified to boost photosynthesis produce greater yields, study shows. 2016.

Megan Tschakert, SDSU Dietetic Intern