Getting Exposed to Sunlight: Late Morning Rays (Part 2)

So the seed seeks sunlight.

Last post, we introduced one of the problems facing the agricultural industry: lack of knowledge. Also last time, we briefly touched on some misconceptions in the dairy farming industry. This post will be focused more on the crop production side of the industry.

In recent years, headlines exploded into the news with differing views on a new technology called Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs, for short. A GMO is, according to the FDA (Food & Drug Administration):

 

"Genetic engineering is the name for certain methods that scientists use to introduce new traits or characteristics to an organism. For example, plants may be genetically engineered to produce characteristics to enhance the growth or nutritional profile of food crops. While these technique are sometimes referred to as "genetic modification," FDA considers “genetic engineering” to be the more precise term. Food and food ingredients from genetically engineered plants were introduced into our food supply in the 1990s." -http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch

 

 

Crops are not altered to make people act differently or to brainwash them or even to give them cancer, as some people think. Crops are altered for the well-being of the crop, and on a larger scale, the well-being of the world population.

 

Some modifications include changing a crop's resistance to a certain type of moth that has been damaging the yield more and more each year. Another example may be changing the genetics of a crop to be more resistant to low water intake. Crops engineered to live and grow steadily on little water are what keeps the industry alive in times of drought, the likes of which Kansas experienced these past few years.

 

Below is a graphic that gives insight on to which types of crops have undergone consultations with the FDA to become genetically modified. This graphic was current as of April 1st, 2013.

("Figure 1. Number of Consultations on Genetically Engineered Crops." http://www.fda.gov )  

 

 

Corn, as is obvious, is a heavy hitter. It's pretty common to see corn when it is in season because it is a large part of the ag market in Kansas. But just how large?

 

566 million bushels large.

 

Think about the number of people that corn feeds. It's hard to imagine. But a lot of that corn was made possible because of genetic modifications to increase resistance to insect pests. Where would Kansas be without that crop?

 

The price of corn would rise. Kansas is a large producer of corn, and without Kansas, the corn industry would take a hit. Corn chips would rise in price. Simple canned corn would rise in price. Corn on the cob may become extremely hard to find. All of these things affect the consumer. They affect you.

 

GMOs aren't just a headline to be looked over the next time you see it. Stop and take a look, and feed your growing knowledge.