GMOs are friends, and food.

This blog post is a call to action for the approval of genetically modified organism because this new technology can help to provide more food to a hungry world. 

 

A starving girl captured by Dr. Lyle Conrad

“Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to be great. YOU can be that great generation. Let your greatness blossom.” – Nelson Mandela

Hunger is the greatest symptom of poverty, and it is not news that there are people in our same world who are starving. It is sad to think that it would be strange to live in a world free of the terms ‘malnutrition’ or ‘world hunger’. What if that could be the reality? Would we really fight against anything that could resolve this social issue? 

Unfortunately, the majority of the current generations have neglected genetic modification, one of the most influential scientific discoveries of all time.  You've probably been into a Whole Foods Market and have noticed that the boxes of their products have labels such as ‘NON-GMO’ (a non-genetically modified organism) or ‘ORGANIC’ stamped across them. This labeling has put fear into Americans, fear that doesn’t have any scientific data to uphold the claim that genetic modification is harmful. 

So how does this connect to food poverty? You see, new development in genetic engineering has led to the discovery that genetic modification can extremely increase crop yield, and keep the plants safe from harmful animals and bugs while it is in its growth stage. This means that when weather patterns do not give farmers the benefit of the doubt, crops can even withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought, because the genetics have been altered. And when crop yield multiplies, the prices of food drop substantially, and the crops are readily available.  This all means in whole that more food would be available to every people group and nation that is currently suffering from extreme malnutrition amongst its people. 

 

So now, you probably are thinking, “Okay, so what’s holding us back? Let’s get that genetically modified seed over to African and Asian countries that have starving people!”  

The problem is, peculiarly, many countries do not share this same opinion. Many have opted to feed into their fears rather than to educate themselves. According to How I Got Converted to G.M.O. Food, Mark Lynas notes Uganda’s inability to improve a staple food (bananas) after the bananas have become infectious. Anti-GMO efforts have prevented the country’s ability to use genetically modified seeds that would have made for a stronger banana that withstands the bacteria.

This is one of many cases. Have you heard of golden rice? It is genetically modified rice, created to provide essential nutrients to people in need. Why is it so hard for many more genetically modified products to become prevalent among the people who need it most? When claims of the harmful effects of GMO’s have been disproven, so should have dissolved any walls keeping nutrition-filled meals from hungry people. Jane E. Brody’s, Fears, Not Facts, Support G.M.O.-Free Food, gives critical evidences to disprove the myths of genetic modification of plants and animals.

What could only have been a dream, has now been achieved. Genetic modification of foods could feed millions of humans living in hunger. But instead, they are being suppressed out of fear. What will you do about it? Will you continue to live in fear, buying non-G.M.O. products?

 
Geneva Tomajko is a student at Northern Virginia Community College, majoring in Psychology. She plans to transfer to George Mason and eventually study in the Special Education masters program. She loves the community for people with intellectual disabilities, and believes they should be pushed to excel in their lives. Her interests include traveling, running, dancing, reading, and spending time with people.