Is this what you guys think it means when GMO comes up in conversation?
Do you know what else is a GMO?
Dogs. Literally ALL dogs have had their genetics modified to make them more docile, loyal, trusting, energetic, obedient ect.
Ears of corn used to be the size of your thumb. Through selective ‘breeding’ we chose the strains of corn that were the biggest, fastest growing, most resilient ect. Ect.
THAT is a GMO. I don’t know where the idea that genetic modification meant they’re injecting your food stuffs with chemicals to change its DNA. That’s not how it works.
However, they ARE spraying your veggies with pesticides and that is something you should be worried about.
Companies like Monsanto are evil. But not because they are breeding crops to feed more people. But because they’re monopolizing the farming market, sueing farmers who share a geographic area and have some of the same strains of crops in their fields because of unavoidable cross pollination and lying about their business practices.
This is Normal Borlaug. In 1942 he received his Ph. D in plant pathology and genetics. In Mexico, he developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease resistant varieties of wheat. A genetically modified food. He introduced these to Mexico, Pakistan and India, resulting in double the wheat yields in a 5 year span. In 1970, Borlaug was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for saving one billion lives from starvation, and contributing to world peace through increasing the world food supply.
Genetically modified food is great.
This, a thousand fucking times this. Privilege is spouting and spreading pseudo-science bullshit you saw on your Facebook feed or on Twitter because unlike people in drought and famine prone areas of the world, you have the option to do just that. Those other parts of the world that don’t have the benefit of a food surplus and can’t pick and choose what they eat depend on GMOs to not die of starvation or watch their children waste away.
I despise Monsanto as much as the next person and if they ever go out of business, I’ll be the first to dance a jig, but condemning GMOs just because one megacorp is a pile of shitbags is beyond idiotic. If scientists can create new strains of seeds that can withstand disease, pests, all while yielding more foodstuff, then we should be throwing our support behind them.
Also, “They are feeding us chemicals!” is a fundamentally ridiculous statement.
Why?
As a chemist, I’m gonna let you in on a little secret:
Everything is chemicals.
Scientists have added extra nutrients to calorie-rich, but nutrient-poor foods that can be grown in countries with limited agriculture. And yet oftentimes they are blocked from getting these GMOs to the countries that desperately need them because of ignorant arguments like this. So yes, pat yourself on the back for stopping a technology that can help prevent starvation because you don’t know how chemicals work.
quietchanges said:
@kandidlyrandom omg yeah, thanks for bringing that point up!
kandidlyrandom said:
@quietchanges Yes! although I also do doubt a little that the faux meat products are really all that great for the environment too - just all that processing requires a lot of water, plastic etc. But to your point possibly better than real meat prodcuts.
quietchanges said:
(by just as healthy i mean for the planet, for humans it’s miles better lol)
quietchanges said:
and the worst part about the point you make is that their argument is partially true when it comes to the impossible burger stuff. because like, yes it’s healthier For The Planet to eat the impossible burger than a beef burger, but For Humans it’s healthier to just eat a plant based dish. like go make a stir fry or some soup and it’ll be just as healthy i promise lol. and if they’re just vegetarian/vegan and are looking for junkfood/fast food,there’s no shortage of cheese sides or fried potatoes
quietchanges said:
@kandidlyrandom yes right??!!!!! and it’s so sad that those companies are lying to them, they really need to be held accountable, although i feel less bad when people have the means to buy actually nutritious food and instead eat juice (not that juices/smoothies/etc are always bad, it’s just not great for that to be your only meal lol) but i guess then this evolves into a discussion of the problem of health education lol.
kandidlyrandom said:
Also very often I’ll see people who scream the loudest about “Chemicals!!!” In the food, are the ones falling for all the trendy diets and fake foods (ie: “cleanses”, or those “impossible meat” or “beyond burgers” products. It’s all so highly processed that their claims of it being healthy go pretty much out the window.