Four Reasons Why You Should Say No To Gmos

As a green clothing retailer, I also have a strong opinion about other issues relating to sustainability, one of which is GMOs

. Recently, I had someone wonder what the big fuss was about GMOs? He wanted proof that GMOs are actually doing harm so, I took the time to write this article.There are many reasons to not want GMOs in the environment or in our diets but for me, the four biggest reasons for saying no to GMOs are as follows:

1. The finding by Dr Don Huber, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Purdue that there was an "unknown to science" seemingly pathogenic micro-organism found in GMO corn and soybeans. It is the suspicion of these scientists that this micro-organism is new, potentially pathogenic and linked to the Roundup Ready gene.

This type of news is huge given the fact that a) we know NOTHING about this micro-organism or its impact on human / animal health and b) it seems directly associated with GMO plants.This evidence alone should have caused the USDA to at least halt the process of further approval of GMO seeds until more could be learned. What did the USDA do? Nothing.

2. As a scientist myself, I find the whole process of producing GMO seeds very concerning. In simple terms, the process involves taking a common soil bacterium, taking the plasmid (or DNA) out of that bacterium and inserting a genetically engineered plasmid into it along with a viral promoter. The genetic modification includes the target gene (what trait you want to confer to the plant, be it Bt, RR, etc) and a marker (typically resistance to a specific herbicide or antibiotic). This bacterium is then propagated and mixed in with normal plant cells. The whole mixture is then treated with the specified antibiotic or herbicide (linked to the marker) which will kill the genetically modified bacteria and any plant cells that did not successfully take up the target gene. The plant cells that do survive are now genetically modified thanks to the little bacterium that acted as the carrier. But here is the kicker. Although the antibiotic treatment or herbicidal treatment is meant to kill all those genetically modified bacteria, the reality is that it is very unlikely they will all be killed. In science, we know that we can never truly achieve 100% destruction of micro-organisms using herbicidal or antibiotic processes. Some will survive. So, you introduce your GMO seeds to the soil, some of which could be carrying these GMO bacteria. The GMO bacteria then escape into the soil where they propagate and do what they were programmed to do - ie. invade new cells and transfer their genetic package to those cells - indiscriminately. That should cause anyone pause for concern.

3. With Bt type GMO plants, there is the very real concern that over time, pests will develop resistance to Bt crops creating so called super bugs. This super bug phenomenon is occurring right now.

4. There is also worry that over use of Round Up will result in evolution of glyphosate resistant weeds or super weeds. This super weed phenomenon is occurring right now.

The four reasons above are why our company promotes organic clothes produced from naturally grown cotton.

We may be enjoying reduced pesticide and herbicide use and increased yields as a result of GMO crops right now but at what cost? What cost to our health and the environment? Furthermore, as super bugs and super weeds continue increasing their numbers, we will likely see a jump in pesticide / herbicide use as farmers battle this new onslaught as well as a subsequent drop in yields.And what will happen then? The Monsantos of the world will no doubt come to our rescue with a new type of GMO product to combat these new super bugs and super weeds and so the cycle will continue.

As I stated to my skeptical host who prompted me to write this article - everyone tells us we need GMOs to feed the world but I'm not convinced that we do. It is more a sales pitch from the biotechs to government and they swallowed the sales pitch, hook, line and sinker.

We really should be pouring our energy, brain power and financial resources into sustainable farming as opposed to trying to bend nature to our will because the reality is - nature will always throw us a curve ball. And it may end up being a real nasty curve ball

by: Adrian Desbarats

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