Reinhardt 1

McKenzie Reinhardt
Prof. Salgat
English 111-24
Nov. 5, 2014
Whats the Difference?
Todays consumers want natural food at the cheapest price possible, as well as wanting
their food to be natural. Organic food is said to be natural, but the prices put on organic foods are
not on the cheap side of the price spectrum for these consumers. Genetically modified crops are
manipulated by agricultural scientists and made to produce maximum yields while at the same
time keeping the food costs low. Most of the food people eat today has been genetically modified
in some way. Whether these genetic modification are occurring from humans, cross pollination,
or some kind of natural way. The United States is not gaining any more land or water. If
anything, there is a loss of land and water due to the growing population. By 2050, the
population is expected to reach nine billion people (Growing populations). Our world is not
getting any larger, but the population is always growing. In return, farmers will have to produce
higher yields than ever to feed this growing population. With American farm and ranch owners
only making up two percent of the population, they are working to feed the other ninety-eight
percent, themselves, and are also exporting crops to other countries ("Fast Facts"). As
mentioned, the amount of land and water is not growing and farmers are doing the best they can
with the resources they have. While farmers continue to do the best they can, the population is
still growing at a rapid rate. Genetically modified crops create the maximum yields that farmers

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need to provide for this growing population while providing multiple other benefits for people as
well.
Plant breeding has resulted in the development of a vast variety of crops. This genetic
engineering allows scientists to transfer certain genes into a plant, which ends up resulting in the
introduction of new traits into a genetic background (Thomson). Genetically modified
organisms are experimental plants or animals that have been genetically engineered in a
laboratory with DNA from other plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses (Pros and Cons). In
1983, biologists from the Monsanto Corporation and Washington University teamed together and
became successful in moving genes into plants, which marked the beginning of genetically
modified crops (Stone). In 1994, the first genetically modified crop was released in the United
States. It was what the company called a Flavr Savr tomato and delayed rotting, keeping the
flavor longer, as the name explains (Stone). Within the next two years of this release, two
different types of genetic modifications came about that have dominated the genetically modified
crops industry.
These two types of genetic modifications are herbicide-tolerant plants and insect-resistant
plants. Insect-resistant plants are created using a gene called bacillus thuringiensis, which is a
natural occurring soil bacteria that produces proteins often referred to as Bt proteins (Thomson).
These proteins are toxic to certain insects and with over 40 different varieties of these proteins,
each kind targets a specific form of insect. Being that these proteins are toxic to insects, one may
wonder if the proteins are safe for human consumption. Bt proteins cause little or no harm to
most non-target organisms, including people and wildlife (Thomson). These proteins have been
used for years in sprays for conventional and organic agriculture and have caused little to no
harmful effects on humans or wildlife (Thomson). Herbicide-tolerant crops battle the ever-

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present problem of every farmer's life, weeds. In developed areas, such as the U.S, most farmers
simply spray their crops with chemical herbicides or weed killers. When farmers cannot afford
these herbicides or weed killers they must resort to manual weeding, which is a rough task
(Thomson). Herbicide tolerant crops come from a gene that has immunity to glyphosate weed
killer, allowing the farmer to spray weeds without harming the crop (Stone). The first
genetically modified herbicide-tolerant crop and also still one of the most popular is the Roundup
Ready soybean. The herbicides used for GM herbicide-tolerant crops is practically non-toxic to
all organisms except for plants, making the plants safe for humans and animals to eat, if the
herbicide is used (Thomson).
According to Websters Dictionary, organic simply means: of, relating to, or derived
from living organisms (Organic and Conventional). When walking through the grocery store
and seeing a food item with the label Organic on it, it has a different meaning. People at the
grocery store look and notice the word "organic" but most people do not even know what that
label means. This organic label means that the food has been grown without the help of synthetic
pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and that the food also has had no genetic modifications to the
plants genetic makeup or chemical food additives (Organic and Conventional). This in the end
makes the plant what most people would refer to as all natural.
Although genetically modified crops are very beneficial in several categories, there are
opposing views against them causing people to wonder if organic foods are the best option over
genetically modified. Those who support organic over genetically modified believe that there are
three main reasons why genetically modified plants should not be used. These reasons deal with
environmental damage, no greater economic value, and growth in allergic reactions. Although
these points are valid, there are a few holes in the pro-organic argument against genetically

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modified crops. The first opposing view against genetically modified crops is the environmental
damage that genetic modifications are said to cause. People say that because farmers plant crops
in land that would not support those crops without the genetically modified characteristics, it
could in return damage the land. This can be seen with weeds most often, because the genetically
modified crops will crossbreed with the weeds, which in the end makes them become resistant to
herbicides. When this happens, more genetically modified efforts are needed and this causes the
cycle to continue (Pros and Cons). Farmers who spray their crops with pesticides and chemical
fertilizers are trained to do so though. They watch their rates carefully and are trained on how to
apply it and when to apply it. Farmers have certifications on what these chemicals do to their
crops to land, and closely administer the use so it affects their land and plants in a positive way.
Again, farmers only account for 2 percent of the population, and have to feed themselves as well
as the other 98 percent and what is exported (Fast Facts). If these chemical pesticides and
fertilizers were affecting their land in a negative way, farmers would not be using them.
A second opposing view pertaining to genetically modified crops is that there really is not
much of a difference in the economic value of producing genetically modified crops. Genetically
modified crops take just as long to mature as other crops, which means that there is no real
economic value to growing genetically modified foods compared to non-genetically modified
foods (Pros and Cons). Being that there is not a faster way to produce crops, the economic
value is not rising. Genetically modified crops have an enhanced genetic makeup. Scientists take
the best traits out of similar crops and combine them, in return farmers get the maximum yields
they can by using genetically modified crops. Greater yields mean that even though the crops are
taking the same amount of time to mature when they are ready the amount of crops produced is
greater. If a genetically modified field is compared to the same size organic field, the genetically

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modified field is going to have a much greater yield, which will in return make more money and
be able to feed a lot more people. The greater yields and being able to feed a lot more people is
of greater economic value.
A third, and final opposing view is that there has been a growth in allergic reactions in
the general population that has come about with the use of genetically modified foods. Studies
have shown that the consumption of GMO foods increases that risk of food-based allergies in
people (Pros and Cons). With this, when someone is allergic to a certain crop because of the
genetically modified efforts that are a part of that crop, that person will also have a chance of
having an allergic reaction to the animals meat that has consumed that crop for their feed as well.
(Pros and Cons). With genetically modified foods, people will be consuming new proteins in
their diet every day. This makes the possibility of someone having a case of an allergic reaction
to a new protein not out of the question. However, there are many ways for scientific reviewing
committees to predict the allergenic potential of a new protein before it is released onto the
market (Do GMOs Mean). Keep in mind that genetically modified foods have to be approved
before released meaning their allergenic potential is reviewed. If a genetically modified plant is
found with what could be a potential allergen than the chances of it being approved are not
likely. Only genetically modified crops that contain new genes and have low probability of
causing allergic reactions receive a positive report from the scientific reviewing committee and
are released onto the market (Do GMOs Mean).
Why choose genetically modified? Todays consumers want natural food at the cheapest
price. Unfortunately, consumers are not going to receive the most cost savvy price with organic
food, because it is much more expensive. With genetically modified organisms, scientists take
good traits of a certain crop and mix it with a similar crops traits to produce the maximum yield

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possible and keep food costs low. Not only does it create maximum yields and keeps costs low,
but genetically modifying crops creates a better overall quality and taste (Pros and Cons). This
better overall quality and taste comes from the modification of flavors that occur when scientists
genetically modify the crops. When being modified, flavors can become enhanced. For example,
peppers becoming spicier or sweeter, and corn can become sweeter as well. Some flavors are
very difficult to use or hard to swallow in foods. These flavors can be made easier to handle,
giving them more uses (Pros and Cons).
Some people are simply scared of the words "genetically modified." Most food we eat
today has been genetically modified in some way, shape, or form either by cross pollination,
humans, or simply some form of nature. As shown in figure 1, the majority of crops grown in the

Fig. 1: Genetically Modified Crops Grown in the US

Source: "Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods." HealthResearchFunding.org. HealthResearchFunding.org, 04 Dec
2013. Web. 11 Nov 2014.

U.S. are genetically modified of some sort. The figure shows the statistics from the year 2010,
and these rates have only rose in the past four years. Soy, cotton, corn, and canola are crops used
or consumed everyday. People cannot even tell they are consuming these genetically modified
products because they are not any different from crops that are not genetically modified.

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A main reason for genetically modified crops being a helpful resource is the fact that the
population is rising and organic cannot produce the yields needed to provide for this growing
population. In the past 120 years, the number of human beings who need to be fed by our planet
has increased from 1.5 billion to 7 billion (Growing Population). Food is not evenly
distributed across the country, and approximately 16% of the U.S. population still faces food
insecurity (Growing Populations). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
defines this as a lack of access by all members of a household to enough food for an active
healthy life (Growing Populations). Farm and ranch families only make up 2 percent of the
U.S. population (Fast Facts). It is nearly impossible for 2 percent of the population to feed the
other 98 percent as well as themselves. Not only are the farmers feeding the U.S. population but
about 23 percent of the crops produced are exported each year (Fast Facts). The amount of
land is also not growing, if anything the amount of land for farmers to use is decreasing because
business and house owners are constantly buying new land from farmers for their buildings.
With this, farmers need a way to grow maximum yields with decreasing land and a growing
population. Genetically modified organisms make this possible.
Genetically modified plants also become more resistant to diseases through their genetic
modifications. Plants are genetically modified to become resistant to disease. This is similar to
when someone is given a vaccine to become immune to a specific disease, but with plants it
occurs by a vaccine that is encoded into the plants genetics (Pros and Cons). The world fights
different diseases off every day, and sometimes they are diseases that come from the food people
are consuming. It becomes very helpful to be able to fight off a lot of these diseases that are
being transferred from plant to human with genetic modifications. Not only do genetic
modifications make plants become resistant to diseases, but there are also more nutrition benefits

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that come out of genetic modifications. When a plant is being modified, extra vitamins and
minerals can be added to the plants genetic makeup to provide greater nutritive benefits to
whoever is consuming them (Pros and Cons). This practice has becoming especially popular in
developing countries where these vitamins and minerals are not as readily available and
accessible (Pros and Cons).
While pro-organic supporters complain about the harmful effects of genetically modified
crops, do they realize that organic is not always all natural and organic? A PR statement from
the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service states under the Organic Standards subsections that
synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used
(Bombaci). Then, the National Organic Program, Subpart COrganic Production and Handling
Requirements state that, nonorganically producedmay be used to produce an organic crop
when an equivalent organically produced variety is not commercially available (Bombaci). As
one can see, this means that organic is not always all natural. If there is not any organic seeds to
be used, organic farmers can use other seeds that are not all natural and organic but can still label
the food as organic in the market. If this is going on behind the scenes, people are not always
actually receiving truly organic food for the expensive organic price. So then why not support
genetically modified?
People have been concerned with environmental damage, economic value, and health and
safety issues that come with genetically modified foods. When these issues come up, people turn
to organic crops because organic crops are all natural and they think the organic crops will not
harm them. After looking into the regulations of organic crops, it is clear that organic is not
always organic. While the arguments against genetically modified crops have quality concerns,
the truth behind the concerns prove that there really is not anything to worry about. People have

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been eating genetically modified more often than they are aware, as most crops produced and
sold in stores have been genetically modified to some extent. These genetically modified crops
help provide for the growing population with maximum yields, creating a better overall quality
and taste, causing the crops to become more resistant to diseases, and creating more nutrition
benefits. When given these four things why would someone not choose to be pro genetically
modified?

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Work Cited
Bombaci, Brendan. ""GMOs in USDA Organic Food." Farm Wars. N.p., 21 August 2013. Web.
3 Nov 2014. <http://farmwars.info/?p=10425>.
Connor, David J. "Organically Grown Crops Do Not a Cropping System Make and nor Can
Organic Agriculture Nearly Feed the World." Field Crops Research 144. (2013): 145147. Science Direct. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
"Do GMOs Mean More Allergies? ." GMO Compass. GMO Compass. Web. 11 Nov 2014.
<http://www.gmocompass.org/eng/safety/human_health/192.gmos_mean_more_allergies
.html>.
Fast Facts About Agriculture. The Voice of Agriculture. American Farm Bureau Federation.
Wed. 9 Nov 2014. <http://www.fb.org/index.php?fuseaction=newsroom.fastfacts>.
"Growing Populations, Growing Challenges." Monsanto. Monsanto Company. Web. 5 Nov
2014.<http://www.monsanto.com/improvingagriculture/pages/growing-populationsgrowing-challenges.asp&xgt;.
"Organic and Conventional Agriculture." Monsanto . Monsanto Company. Web. 5 Nov 2014.
<http://www.monsanto.com/improvingagriculture/pages/organic-and-conventionalagriculture.asp&xgt;.

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Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods. HealthResearchFunding.org.
HealthResearchFunding.org, 04 Dec 2013. Web. 9 Nov 2014.
<http://healthresearchfunding.org/pros-cons-genetically-modified-foods/>
Stone, Glenn D. "The Anthropology of Genetically Modified Crops." Annual Review of
Anthropology 39. (2010): 381-400. JSTOR. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Thomson, Jennifer A. Seeds for the future: The impact of genetically modified crops on the
environment. (2007): 2-12. JSTOR. Print. 21 Oct. 2014