GMO vs Organic

[Aractus]

There's no such thing as a "superfood". It's a frivolous marketing term.

[Alex K]

I always try to eat more GMOs out of spite. I buy organic, too, sometime, but most anti-GMO activists I've met were idiots or hypocrites. I get some of the concerns of course, but what I've seen was little more than an anti Monsanto club with a lots of magical thinking about "natural" food

[Alex K]

I've been trying to eat more organic food and avoid GMO, although it's really hard in the US.

Organic has no proven health benefits over traditionally farmed foods, and in some situation organic fertilisers are more potent to human health than non-organic fertilisers due to containing higher levels of heavy metals.

GMO is not a proven technology either.

What is that supposed to mean? You surely aren't implying that we don't know whether genetic modification works, so I wonder.

[The Grand Nudger]

Shouldn't be too hard to avoid GMOs in the US..............unless you eat livestock feed.

[brewer]

I only eat gluten free meat.

[downbeatplumb]

[Aractus]

Organic has no proven health benefits over traditionally farmed foods, and in some situation organic fertilisers are more potent to human health than non-organic fertilisers due to containing higher levels of heavy metals.

GMO is not a proven technology either.

What is that supposed to mean? You surely aren't implying that we don't know whether genetic modification works, so I wonder.

It follows the same principles as any other system. If it works and has benefits you have to ask what are the unintended negatives.

[Alex K]

What is that supposed to mean? You surely aren't implying that we don't know whether genetic modification works, so I wonder.

It follows the same principles as any other system. If it works and has benefits you have to ask what are the unintended negatives.

To me it makes sense to ask that question about specific GMO applications, but it doesn't make sense to apply it to the entire field and for posterity. The general technique works, some applications are largely benign (such as putting vitamin A in plantains), others are more problematic, some things are not yet understood. Calling into question whether genetic modification of organisms in general works out seems very misleading. Not comparing genetic modification to current techniques which are relying on uncontrolled mutations is dishonest.

[scoobysnack]

I've been trying to eat more organic food and avoid GMO, although it's really hard in the US.

Organic has no proven health benefits over traditionally farmed foods, and in some situation organic fertilisers are more potent to human health than non-organic fertilisers due to containing higher levels of heavy metals.

GMO is not a proven technology either. It has the potential to bring health benefits, but they might be accompanied by unintended negative consequences. If you want my advice, it's not a bad idea to buy non-GMO, but there's no reason to buy organic unless there's a specific environmental benefit for the specific product - but in most cases organic alternatives to traditional fertilisers and pesticides are actually worse for the environment and/or human health (mostly they end up being worse ecologically speaking, and sometimes they are worse for human health... but the health concern of organic fertilisers may or may not be present in the final product).

If ecology is a concern to you then learn where your food comes from. Avoid buying unnecessary overseas imports - it's better ecologically to buy local GMO than to buy foreign foods from China, or where-ever they send fresh produce from where you live. Even local ecology is not straightforward. Pretty much all local produce here in Canberra (including at the markets) that is produced in Bega is sent to Sydney first, and then comes back to Canberra. It's economical, but not ecological.

I agree, and we really don't know of all the fertilizers and pesticides used. If I can I buy locally to support the local economy and sustainable farming.

[scoobysnack]