In this area, there are a lot of acres of corn and soybeans to be harvested this fall.
About 90 percent or more of these crops were planted with genetically modified (GMO) seeds. Does that mean we should be concerned about the safety of foods produced from these seeds?
We have every right to be concerned about the safety and quality of the food we eat. We need, however, to base our answer to these questions on factual, accurate information. With foods produced from GMO seeds, there are all kinds of research and studies that affirm the safety and quality of those foods.
We are much more interested in the quality and safety of what we eat today than we were in the past. We tend to question what is in the food that we put in our mouths.
Studies done in the state of Iowa and in Italy suggest our interest provides an opportunity to help us understand better the whole complex food production system.
Today’s modern communication system provides all kinds of opportunities to inform and educate us. Problem is, we have a number of self-informed or perhaps misinformed people that put out inaccurate and untrue information.
When that information is not based on science or facts, it doesn’t give us a true picture of what goes into the growing and processing of our food. It also says we need to carefully check our sources to determine their reliability.
It’s the information we are seeing based on someone’s opinion? Or, do they have some kind of a program or product they are promoting? It’s their information based on factual and scientific studies and research?
In a recent Cornell University study, Professor David Just found consumers have failed to grasp the benefits of biotechnology, including GMOs, to all of us. This says agriculture, in general, and companies involved in developing GMOs need to do a better job of education.
There are direct benefits to us through lower food costs, use of fewer pesticides, improved food quality and environmental improvements.
Indirect benefits include such things as less pesticide use in the U.S., and many foreign countries and increased yields for poor farmers. Or the development of a golden rice that is much higher in food quality and benefits low income countries.
Some unfortunate legislative action is being proposed to require foods produced by GMOs to be so labeled. That creates an image there are risks from GMOs, which is not true.
Also, there isn’t much that we eat that doesn’t contain genetically modified products.
For hundreds of years, we have changed or modified genes through cross pollination. Nature itself also genetically modifies plants over time. Requiring labeling would be a waste of time and added expense.
If you travel up and down the rural roads in our area, you can’t help but notice the many fields of corn in tassel and ripening. Or the fields of soybeans, some still very green and others beginning to show food improvement traits.
Since most of these were planted with GMO seeds, you can be assured of their safety and quality. You also know that they improve yields to farmers and help assure us of an adequate food supply. These facts are documented by a lot of research.
Using the term “genetically modifying organisms” seems to concern some people. Since it means taking a certain “trait” from one plant and putting it in another one to improve food production, why not call the process adding “food improvement traits” to seeds? That better describes what is being done.
So, given good harvest weather, we should have decent yields this fall. And, it is good to be concerned about the safety of our food and remember that today’s agricultural practices are producing foods that are safe and of high quality.
Parker is an independent agricultural writer.