ch butterflies. The corn's toxicity was lethal enough to kill a monarch's larvae. Luckily, that specific type of corn was not very popular and thus not extensively planted. However, had it been, the monarch butterfly population would have been at high risk of severe population decline. (ucusa.org) Pesticides GMOs are also promoted as reducing the amount of pesticides used in farming (pesticides include herbicides). Bt crops did display a reduction of pesticides used, but other herbicide tolerant GMOs did not. While Bt crops experienced a reduction of 62. million lbs of pesticides used, other GMOs showed an overall increase of 383 million lbs of herbicides needed. According to a 2008 report, herbicide use on GM herbicide tolerant crops rose 31.4% in the span of one year. (saynotogmos.org) World Hunger GMOs cannot solve the problem world-wide hunger. As seen previously, they do not increase crop yield or require less input to receive greater output. Even if they did, hunger is not a problem of lack of food but, rather, lack of proper distribution and the prevalence of poverty. GMOs are useless in this regard. Humans will have to look elsewhere to solve this global dilemma. Works Cited "GMO Myths and Truths." Http://www.saynotogmos.org/ud2012/fp-content/docs/GMO_Myths_and_Truths_1.1.pdf. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2013.
"Environmental Effects of Genetically Modified Food Crops -- Recent Experiences." Http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-engineering/environmental-effects-of.html. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2013.
"FAQ." Organic Agriculture: What Are the Environmental Benefits of Organic Agriculture? N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2013.
"A Collaborative Initiative Working to Ensure the Sustained Availability of Non-GMO Options." The NonGMO Project RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2013.
"GMO Patents Squeeze Small Farmers." Rogue Valley Community Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2013 Papaya (most of Hawaiian crop; approximately 988 acres)
Soy (approx. 94% of U.S. crop in 2011)
Sugar Beets (approx. 95% of U.S. crop in 2010)
Zucchini and Yellow Summer Squash (approx. 25,000 acres) (nongmoproject.org)
Regulations in other parts of the world are an improvement upon the U.S.'s but are hardly strict enough to properly protect the consumer. Regulations (con.) Regulations (con.) Furthermore, just recently, Monsanto (the leading corporation producing GM seeds) and its friends managed to attach a clause to the funding bill that President Obama signed into law. The clause prohibits the Department of Agriculture from halting production of a GM crop once it has been planted, regardless of any evidence that might prove it a danger. This poses the question: In cases such as this, is Congress really protecting the people's interests? Effects on Small Farmers Organic Farming As an alternate to GMOs, some farmers have turned to 0:00-3:08 Effects on small farmers For organic small farmers, GMOs pose a serious problem. Cross pollination can easily transfer the GMO seeds to nearby organic farms and contaminate the crops with GM seed. In this case, organic farmers can no longer ensure that their crop is a 100% organic and lose their status as USDA organic.
Another problem is corporate control of the seed supply. Traditionally, farmers save the seeds from their harvests so they do not have to repurchase new ones for the next season. But with the patenting of GMOs, farmers are unable to do so as it would violate the licensing agreement they signed when GM seeds are purchased. Farmers (con.) Violation of the licensing agreement can occur unintentionally. A farmer whose field is contaminated with GM seed could potentially be sued for copying a patented material. The financial expenses of a lawsuit could be devastating upon the farmer.
Monsanto, by Jan 2010, had filed 136 lawsuits against farmers and the majority were ruled in favor of the company.