What is so wrong with genetically altered food ?

[skrump]

It seems to me that making food larger/more nutritious via genetic engineering would be a good thing assuming it was well regulated and the individual modifications were tested for potential health effects.

I mean honestly we have a chance to mass produce super food and it's being pissed away because were worried farmers would kill off their customer base in order order to cut costs.

[Kulanae]

It seems to me that making food larger/more nutritious via genetic engineering would be a good thing assuming it was well regulated and the individual modifications were tested for potential health effects.

I mean honestly we have a chance to mass produce super food and it's being pissed away because were worried farmers would kill off their customer base in order order to cut costs.

For me the biggest issue is the thining of the diversity of the crop to one strain. Therefore in the advent of any disease which attacks this one strain, the entire worlds supply could be wiped out. As long as the diversity in say wheat is maintained to multiple divergent strains, I see no moral reason to oppose GM crops.

[Kalyyn]

Religious zealots don't like it because they're butt-hurt that we're playing god. Hippies don't like it because it's not from nature, man! None of those people's opinions matter. And then there is a mass of people who have been falsely lead to believe that nature creates things perfectly, and we shouldn't be tampering with it. For those people, I would point out the panda. Nature spent millions of years making those bastards, and they're pretty much defective. Like, they can't even figure out how sex works without human intervention. Nature has no plan. Humanity does.

Long story short, genetically modified food is one of the greatest things we've ever created, and it is saving millions who would otherwise starve.

[TirielWoW]

It seems to me that making food larger/more nutritious via genetic engineering would be a good thing assuming it was well regulated and the individual modifications were tested for potential health effects.

I mean honestly we have a chance to mass produce super food and it's being pissed away because were worried farmers would kill off their customer base in order order to cut costs.

In theory, there's nothing wrong with genetically modified food. In practice, there's very little data one way or the other. And what people consider to be "genetically" modified varies wildly. Some people consider ANY domestication of a plant to be "genetic modification." So crossing wheat with rye using pollination would be "genetically modified" to them. Other people only consider it to be "genetically modified" if it was placed in a lab setting and scientists spliced in specific chromosomes, etc. Still others don't consider it "genetically modified" unless the gene splicing was done between two families/genera of plants (i.e. taking corn and splicing in genes from a fish, or something similar). So when you ask, "What is wrong with genetically altered food," it's a really, REALLY broad subject and people can't even agree on what it's composed of.

It doesn't help that there is a very large, very wealthy, very secretive corporation doing the bulk of genetic modifications in plants right now. With a vested interest in them being found "safe." Even if we could "mass produce super food," do you honestly believe Monsanto would simply give it away?

[Cthulhu 2020]

Religious zealots don't like it because they're butt-hurt that we're playing god. Hippies don't like it because it's not from nature, man! None of those people's opinions matter. And then there is a mass of people who have been falsely lead to believe that nature creates things perfectly, and we shouldn't be tampering with it. For those people, I would point out the panda. Nature spent millions of years making those bastards, and they're pretty much defective. Like, they can't even figure out how sex works without human intervention. Nature has no plan. Humanity does.

Long story short, genetically modified food is one of the greatest things we've ever created, and it is saving millions who would otherwise starve.

And then there's the people who have legitimate allergic reactions to new strains that would just simply like it if GMO food were labeled, as there are still some brands that use non-organic "heritage" crops that are safe for them. I guess the legitimate concerns will be drowned out, because those who think GMOs are the best thing since modern medicine and sliced bread can only see those who want to label them as religious fanatics, hippies, or naturists.

[DEATHETERNAL]

As far as anyone actually knows at this point, nothing whatsoever.

[ati87]

Your answering your own question

well regulated

its not well regulated and some company's aim to keep it so. Normal food is more regulated then altered food.

[Cybran]

Because of Monsanto.

[Deleted]

Nothing is wrong with it at all.
What is wrong is when the spores from a GM Crop naturally do what spores do which is travel on the wind and end up in another field and starts growing naturally, and end up getting some poor farmer sued by a big business for growing a crop they had not paid for.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/779265.stm

I am not against GM crops, in fact I believe that they are the future of farming. However, both Farmers and Big business need to be educated in their usage, and realize that unless they engineer out the ability for the plant to propagate, then if it ends up in another field that the owner of that field cannot beheld responsible for accidental growing.

[Greed001]

It seems to me that making food larger/more nutritious via genetic engineering would be a good thing assuming it was well regulated and the individual modifications were tested for potential health effects.

I mean honestly we have a chance to mass produce super food and it's being pissed away because were worried farmers would kill off their customer base in order order to cut costs.

If people think any fruit or vegetable today isn't genetically modified, they're either uneducated or lying. Selective breeding has been going on for 10,000+ years. Nothing you eat today, that you can buy in a store, isn't grubbed up with human intentions.

[TirielWoW]

Nothing is wrong with it at all.
What is wrong is when the spores from a GM Crop naturally do what spores do which is travel on the wind and end up in another field and starts growing naturally, and end up getting some poor farmer sued by a big business for growing a crop they had not paid for.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/779265.stm

I am not against GM crops, in fact I believe that they are the future of farming. However, both Farmers and Big business need to be educated in their usage, and realize that unless they engineer out the ability for the plant to propagate, then if it ends up in another field that the owner of that field cannot beheld responsible for accidental growing.

I think you mean pollen.

And there are is a lot more going on than just that. Consider, for example, that Monsanto has engineered a strain of corn that internally produces pesticide to kill insects that would feed on it. Which is great, right? Because it means that the farmer doesn't have to dose the crop down with harmful pesticides! Except that now the pesticide is in every cell in the plant. Including the corn kernels you and I eat. And it can't be washed off. And that same pesticide is in the pollen the corn produces, and will be picked up by any bees or other beneficial insects that would otherwise assist in pollinating the plant. And pesticides do not discriminate.

And that's just one instance.

The problem with a company like Monsanto is, yes, how they treat small farmers. But it's also that they are so wealthy and so well-connected that I honestly find it hard to believe there's any real regulation going on of their practices. They are extremely opaque.

[Sorrior]

Because of Monsanto.

That fucking made me laugh..Ok on the inside but still fucking funny...

[TirielWoW]

If people think any fruit or vegetable today isn't genetically modified, they're either uneducated or lying. Selective breeding has been going on for 10,000+ years. Nothing you eat today, that you can buy in a store, isn't grubbed up with human intentions.

^^ That right there is an example of what I was saying. I don't see "selective breeding" the same as "genetic modification," but this poster clearly does. So which of us is right? And when people are upset about genetically modified food, what exactly do they mean? Since everyone seems to have a different definition of "genetically modified."

[Kaleredar]

For me the biggest issue is the thining of the diversity of the crop to one strain. Therefore in the advent of any disease which attacks this one strain, the entire worlds supply could be wiped out. As long as the diversity in say wheat is maintained to multiple divergent strains, I see no moral reason to oppose GM crops.

This is pretty much the issue.

In addition to the extremely-difficult to regulate cross-breeding factors, a spread into the wild could be devastating. Plants designed to produce their own pesticides would devastate local trophic secondary consumers (and that's completely ignoring any biomagnification hazards,) and would crowd out local plant life due to their superior resistance to adverse conditions


While I'm never really for making farmers have to pay even more into big ag, they should put into effect some sort of "lysine contingency" type thing... where unless the plants are supplied with a certain type of nutrient, they simply can't grow.

[feellucky]

Religious zealots don't like it because they're butt-hurt that we're playing god. Hippies don't like it because it's not from nature, man! None of those people's opinions matter. And then there is a mass of people who have been falsely lead to believe that nature creates things perfectly, and we shouldn't be tampering with it. For those people, I would point out the panda. Nature spent millions of years making those bastards, and they're pretty much defective. Like, they can't even figure out how sex works without human intervention. Nature has no plan. Humanity does.

Long story short, genetically modified food is one of the greatest things we've ever created, and it is saving millions who would otherwise starve.

Its actually not doing any of that in fact it is creating more starvation and ruining cropland. It encourages planting the same crop repeatedly and the use of chemicals and pesticides that disrupt the ecosystem, making land completely unfarmable by stripping all of the nutrients. Now there is definitely still debate over whether or not GMOs specifically cause cancer but there is no debate on monopolization of the food industry. Designing and patenting a crop so that it is resistant to the pesticide you sell and sterile so that farmers have to buy more seeds from you and actually making it illegal to reuse any seeds has nothing to do with putting an end to hunger. Its all about making money, which is fine its what businesses are supposed to do but when it negatively effects the lives of every living person on the planet its no wonder we see GMO bans all over the world and more and more everyday. Monsanto recently pulled out of lobbying in the EU entirely because of the uprising against GMOs. The US will be the last place to wake up and see this well orchestrated power grab for what it is but that is only because of the sheer stranglehold Monsanto has on the US government. The revolving door between monsanto and positions in the FDA and other government positions is staggering.

Scientifically there is nothing wrong with GMOs as long as its tested and we understand what we are doing and we are also looking at things from an ecological standpoint as well. Nutrient content, which is hardly ever considered, should also be addressed not just crop yields and long term sustainability of production. We have been genetically modifying organisms through selection since the beginning of human civilization and even that hasn't been completely fruitful. In many crops we have bred the nutrition out of the crop for a better looking and tasting food. GMOs could be great if we were using the technology for the right reason, to increase nutrition and in harmony with the nature around it but the current method of GMOs is designed with only short term profit gains in mind.

[Kalyyn]

And then there's the people who have legitimate allergic reactions to new strains that would just simply like it if GMO food were labeled, as there are still some brands that use non-organic "heritage" crops that are safe for them. I guess the legitimate concerns will be drowned out, because those who think GMOs are the best thing since modern medicine and sliced bread can only see those who want to label them as religious fanatics, hippies, or naturists.

If you want to label it, I won't put up any resistance. But surely you must understand my frustration when people like the government of Zambia choose to let their entire population starve rather than accept free GMO foods from America, simply because they don't trust it. Sure, they have the luxury of being suspicious of it. They aren't worried about their next meal, unlike the thousands they've condemned to death.

[TirielWoW]

If you want to label it, I won't put up any resistance. But surely you must understand my frustration when people like the government of Zambia choose to let their entire population starve rather than accept free GMO foods from America, simply because they don't trust it. Sure, they have the luxury of being suspicious of it. They aren't worried about their next meal, unlike the thousands they've condemned to death.

Oh sure. But the thing is, companies like Monsanto don't want the food labeled at all.

[Deleted]

zombies man. all them zombies, true fact is how it will start

[Deleted]

- Diversity of crops. Monocultures and reducing oneself to growing only one efficient genetically modified crop is an invitation to parasites, bacteria and insects to adapt to this crop. It's already a big problem. Many insects and fungus already adapted to the common pesti- and insecticides used. It's like with medicine and antibiotics. Growing diverse crops in mixed cultures creates a much more natural habitat.
- Inability to keep the pollen and seeds from spreading. Huge issue because: 1. Lawsuits 2. Spreading of potentially harmful material (it's out in the field to be tested and then spreads uncontrollably, you can't test everything in the lab, especially not how it copes within a natural habitat, like harmful insects and good insects like bees)
- Not enough knowledge how consumption affects people. Like already mentioned, there's crops out there with BUILT-IN insecticides. Monsanto wants you to eat it.
- Not enough knowledge how it affects nature. Especially bees, dying bees are a HUGE problem right now. And once a modified crop is out there, it is OUT THERE. It's a bit like with the internet: put up a photo and it's forever in the internet, you won't be able to take it back.
- The sheer cost of the crops. Most of them are so designed, that a farmer is supposed to rebuy the very expensive seeds from them again and again instead of growing their own, like they did with "traditional" seeds. There's enough stories out there where farmers where tempted to buy into it only to ruin themselves with the expensive seeds while doing totally fine before using traditional material. It's a market penetration strategy: get many farmers by first being cheap while promising big harvests, then once hooked put on the real price tags.
- ... and so on, there's a multitude of studies and documentaries out there. Look for them.

[Cracked]

There is nothing wrong with genetically modifying plants. It's just enhancing them (be it towards our goals, or their survival), just like it is when a woman decides to have a plastic surgery done. Granted, the plant doesn't get to decide, but plants are not sentient and thus don't care. People oposing modification are undereducated wannabe worldchangers, who only hold the society back, haltering the advance.