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Answers

Question

Are GMOs unethical?

Submitted by: spartannick


Answer

Expert response from Karen Batra

Director of Food & Agriculture Communications

Wednesday, 13/04/2016 12:41

The genetic engineering techniques used by biotech companies to develop improved seeds are just an extension of natural plant breeding and evolution that has been taking place for hundreds – even thousands – of years.  

 

The fact is nearly everything we eat today – including organic and heirloom varieties – has been genetically altered by human intervention. The corn and bananas we eat today bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors, and selective breeding of wild mustard created the modern varieties of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. 

 

Farmers have been breeding crops – and thereby genetically altering them – since the dawn of agriculture. With today's methods, scientists are able to make precise improvements by adding or changing just a gene (or two or a few) in ways that are far more effective and precise.

 

Plants modified by these techniques, the best and safest we’ve ever invented, are the ones we now call GM or GMO. This is how modern biotechnology is improving agriculture and food production to better feed a growing world.

 

Look at the History of Crop Modification slide presentation under the “Explore” section of this website to learn more about the origins of agriculture, the evolution of crop modification and how we got the foods we eat today!