Advantages And Disadvantages Of Non GMO

By Megan Landry


GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Non GMO on the other hand are those that are natural or organic. During the course of genetic modification, there is removal of one or more genes from the DNA of other organisms like bacteria or viruses. The removed genes are then recombined into the DNA of the plant in which alteration is to be done.

With addition of such new genes, the genetic engineers want them to exhibit growth characteristics similar to those of organisms from where the genes are removed. The safety of GMO has been in question over time, with most organizations and countries questioning how safe they are. This is the reason it is a requirement that foods sold are supposed to be labeled for the sake of informing the buyers what to expect.

One major concern that people have with buying organic foods is the costs involved. They are more costly than their conventional counterparts. The higher prices can be partly linked to the expensive farming practices that accompany their production. Since fruits and vegetables that are organically produced are not treated with preservatives, they spoil much faster.

There are numerous advantages of non genetically modified foods. Unlike the others, they have few chemicals if any. Those that are genetically modified are produced using sewage sludge plus a host of other chemicals. These, in addition to hormones used in animal stimulation for better productivity, pose a huge risk. Some amount of the chemicals remain on such produce.

Pesticides used are likely to leave residues on the products from such animals, something that may have a long term effect on consumers. Further, there may be leakage of hormones and antibiotics into produce, posing more risks. Farmers that use organic methods do not use chemical means for production, thus there is unlikely to be as much residue.

With the importance attached to the environment, there is need to protect it against any damages and pollution. That is one of the biggest reasons why the use of non GMO is preferred- it conserves the environment a great deal. There is no much use of chemicals.

Organic foods also have a few shortcomings. For once, it is quite a challenge maintaining an organic kitchen. This is because over time, there has been an increase in production and acceptance of genetically modified ones. This, coupled with the fact that they are much cheaper, makes the process of using purely organic foods tedious.

The number of companies venturing into production of non GMOs. This in the long run makes it disadvantageous to small business enterprises. This is because over time, there is a requirement that producers and those that sell organic foods need to be certified. The process of certification is both costly and complicated. Small farmers may not afford such.

As to whether non GMO is more nutritious than GMO has not been conclusively determined. There has been the general belief that genetically modified produce is not as nutritious but this has no basis, at least as at now. In terms of nutrient value, the two are more or less at the same level.




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