GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) are a big debate today among countries because of the health effects they can have on humans and other animals.  As many people know, GMO’s are implemented commonly in plant crops where companies are using molecular biology techniques to more efficiently produce and enhance food for human and other animal consumption. Essentially what happens is these plants are modified in a laboratory to enhance desired traits.  They do this so the plants will be more pest, disease, weed and cold resistant, among other advantages. Additionally, many crops are infused with genes that make them more nutritious for us and has helped many people in developing nations. Overall, these scientific techniques do help the world greatly by sustaining and feeding our growing human population which topples over 7 billion people now.

Though these GMO’s do help us in many ways they also can cause harm. Some independent farmers have been victim to the corporation Monsanto, where plant gene transfer happened to unintentional targets. Monsanto’s farm fields are next to other farmers’ fields, and the wind blows Monsanto’s GMO pollen into other people’s fields of crops. Monsanto would then sue those farmers for not paying them compensation for using their product, putting many out of business. Additionally, GMO’s have been known to cause allergies among  some humans and unintended harm has been done to other animals.  For example the pollen from corn contains a GMO called B.t and when also blown into other farmer’s fields,  many times it has been digested by monarch caterpillars and kills them.

Below are some interesting graphs giving you a good insight of how today’s world is producing and consuming GMO grown crops.

Amount of Earth’s Land Used To Grow GMO Crops

Countries Producing GMO Crops

Overall I am on the fence about this issue of whether GMO’s should be abandoned all together or their usage only minimized.  But I hope this information can help people figure out their stance on this issue. The information above can be checked at these sources…….   http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php       http://www.itmonline.org/arts/gmo.htm