Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs are introduced into our world more and more very day. They are plants that have genetic traits breed into them by injection or selective breeding. There are many benefits to these plants, but there are also some concerns with these plants.
For farmers, GMOs are very important. With weed resistant, drought resistant, and disease resistant plants, less herbicides and pesticides are sprayed on the crops. This saves the farmer money while increasing crop production and yield per acre.

For the buyer, food products can be processed faster since more materials are on hand and new products can be developed with a plethora of crops. The new products are the foods we eat, especially health foods, with natural additives of soy or wheat products. Many of the health foods we eat that are influenced by these crops are soy protein bars, all natural wheat breads and other bread products such as crackers. Some other genetically modified foods are some types of apples such as Red Delicious, and types of tomatoes to keep them redder longer.

There are also other benefits of GMOs for people suffering from starvation, nutrient deficiencies, and disease. For example, in Africa, young children are suffering from a Vitamin A deficiency. Plant geneticists from Purdue University developed a type of rice called Golden Rice. They increased the amount of Vitamin A by adding a gene to produce more carotenoids. The rice was shipped over and easily farmed in the difficult agriculture conditions. The problem isn’t completely solved for all of Africa, but this modified food did make a drastic difference.

With the many opportunities we have in the US, what a great way to use our resources to benefit the rest of the world!