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Published on June 25th, 2017 | by David Morales

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Health Watch: The benefits of GMOs

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are a tool that help farmers with some of the most stressing environmental challenges. What if you could help improve soil health and air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste and conserve water? Modern agricultural technology makes this possible by supporting GMOs. Not only do GMOs help farmers grow more crops while using fewer natural resources, they impose no health risks. In fact, a National Academies of Sciences study released 2016, concludes that GMOs are safe for both human and animal consumption. Not only are GMOs safe to eat and beneficial for the environment, but they allow the development of new technologies to combat some of today’s biggest threats to our food system. That is why 7th generation farmer Katie Pratt joins The Hype magazine in a satellite interview, to discuss the health benefits and the wide-ranging environment and economic impact.

What are GMOs are they safe to eat?

Yes, they are! So, GMOs, if we can start at the beginning, is an acronym for genetically modified organisms, and it seems like we’re talking about a thing but we’re really talking about a process of plant breeding. So, getting new hybrids and varieties of plants. They’re one of the most tested, regulated products that we have today. Takes about 13 years, all the way into afarmer’s field for it to be approved. The scientific community continuallycomes down in the side of safety of GMOs. I’m a mom and the primary food decision maker for my family. I feel very comfortable in that process that testing and regulation process. I’m okay with buying that type of food for my family if it’s there.

So why do we need to GMO’s?

Well my family and I farm as well and so GMOs serve as a tool in our tool belt. Just one more way for us to be better, more efficient farmers and also better stewards of our environment, our natural resources, our fields, our soil in our water that’s our storefront so to speak. So, the hooves us to do really well to take care for of it. So by having this other option, these other choices about the seeds that we can plant in our fields, it gives us a variety of ways that we can care for them and protect the environment at the same time.

You say that GMOs have an impact on our environment. In what ways?

So, from the perspective of our farm, we have been able to do more with less. So for example some of these genetically modified seeds already have a crop protection ability built into them. The corn plant let’s say can fight off a corn borer an insect that would wreak havoc on it that we would need to go in and spray with an insecticide to control that insect pressure on our field. Now the plant can fight that battle itself. So we’re reducing the amount of chemicals we’re applying to our field which means we’re also not in our fields as much, that means our fuel usage is going down and then we see a better quality soil. Just because we’re not in the fields as much and we’re not disturbing that, there’s better organic matter build up. There, the nutrients and minerals are staying put and then even further on we see better water quality. Just because we’re not getting that soil run-up or any of that leaching of nutrients or minerals from the soil. So, it’s kind of like a pebble in a pond, the ripple effect just keeps going out and out.

Tell us about GMOAnswers.com and the role that you and other volunteer experts, like you, play.

GMOanswers.com is a great place to go for information about biotechnology and GMOs. I’ve got a lot of data, statistics, graphics, frequently asked questions and it’s powered by volunteer experts like myself. There are food scientists plant, scientist’s nutritionists and dietitians that are all answering questions about biotechnology as it relates to their place in the food chain.

 


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About the Author

is the Executive Editor of The Hype magazine. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, David has a background as an artist manager, writer, blogger, drummer, and in the human services industry. He is passionate about helping others, learning and has a deep empathy for the creative process. You can follow his social media @dcypherstudios


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