Imagine a world without bananas.
What would you put in your smoothies? What would mingle with the walnuts in your breakfast muffin? Race times in Mario Kart would certainly improve, but how else would we take joy from cartoon characters’ misfortunes?
With a trending emphasis on clean eating and leading sustainable lifestyles, public opinion is quick to decry genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as a part of Monsanto’s insidious plan for global domination. GMOs refer to any biological matter containing genetic material that has been altered via methods of genetic engineering or biotechnology — essentially, the manipulation of an organism’s DNA sequencing.
A common misconception is that GMOs are the relatively new brainchild of profit-greedy men in suits. However, the practice of splicing and tweaking cultures and enzymes dates back to Sumerian culture nearly 5,000 years ago. In reality, the scope of geneticallymodified organisms has a reach far greater than a single corporation’s nefarious business practices.
In fact, you are able to enjoy bananas in present day thanks to the efforts of genetic sequencing and precise cultivation practices.
During the 1950s, the most popular variant of the banana was the Gros Michel — that is, until the entire variety was wiped out by a South American fungus. Fortunately, the Gros Michel was replaced by a disease resistant banana called Cavendish.
Now, a new disease has emerged that is threatening not only the bananas we know and love, but also starchy plantains that are the staple of many diets in developing countries. Global food conditions are already troublesome — could you imagine the consequences if one of the few, basic staples for impoverished nations was eradicated?
Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a decade long project has been underway by Dr. James Dale of the Queensland University of Technology to develop a biofortified banana that also contains boosted amounts of iron and Vitamins A and E. Along with scientific endeavors to save the Cavendish, the research behind this new genetically modified varietal would be integral towards alleviating widespread nutritional deficiencies in underdeveloped nations.
Chipotle recently drew both praise and criticism for announcing plans to remove genetically modified ingredients from its menus. While the move is a step in the right direction of mindful consumer habits, it also perpetuates the overhyped public distrust of “Frankenfood” with which GMOs have become synonymous. Not to mention the enormous effort that Chipotle’s new plan would impose: cross-contamination and the presence of GMO components in many ingredients make this a seemingly daunting task.
Extensive research and studies have shown there are not “any significant hazards directly connected with the use of genetically engineered crops,” according to a conclusion published in the journal Critical Review of Biotechnology. A team of scientists embarked on a 12-month process to collect and evaluate 1,783 research papers, reviews and reports on the effects of GMOs published from 2002 to 2012.
The findings are supported by the National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the European Commission, which all agree that GMO foods are safe for consumption. In the United States, rigorous testing by multiple entities (the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) occurs to determine the safety and health effects before genetically modified foods are commercially available, according to nonprofit organization the Genetic Literacy Project.
As with any heavily debated topic, GMOs are not on a cut-and-dry platform. There are certainly critical factors to take into consideration with how business practices are implemented along with the associated socioeconomic consequences, but ultimately, GMOs are not inherently deceitful. There is a wide range of benefits that genetically modified food sources can impart on impoverished countries.
Of course, the world will keep spinning even if bananas do become extinct, but your smoothie may never taste the same again.