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There is no way to know what effects transgenics (GMOs) will have on the environment over the long term (50 years or longer). Since they have been grown commercially (1996), overall herbicide use has dropped slightly in the U.S. while the use of Round-up (glysophate) has doubled. Weeds have developed resistance, so new GMO varieties that are resistant to more toxic herbicides have been developed and at this time, are waiting for approval by the regulating agencies. Though the cause of bee colony collapse is not known, bT varieties (engineered to produce an insecticide within the plant itself) may be at least partially responsible for it. Though the toxin produced by bT varieties is supposed to be targeted to certain insects, it is not known if it kills other insects or has an effect on human health. In addition, it is suspected that insects are becoming resistant to it. The use of herbicides also have negative effects on soil and runoff can pollute the water, so unless the use of GMO varieties significantly reduce pesticide use, pollution continues to be as much as a factor as using non-GMO varieties. It is also not known if the transgene that was inserted artificially into GMO varieties will transfer horizontally to other plants, though many say it is no different than vertical breeding, which is how breeding occurs in nature.

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Pearline Blick

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3y ago

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How are GM foods harmful to the environment?

GMO crops can harm the environment by promoting pesticide resistance in pests, leading to increased chemical use. Insects can also develop resistance to the toxins produced by GMO crops, affecting non-target species and disrupting the ecosystem. There are concerns about the impact of GMO crops on biodiversity and native plant species.


What happens if you don't have GM food?

Nothing happens if we don't have GMO foods, though not having GMO foods is not very likely now that they are being used commercially and the modified genes are already released into the environment.


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Some people are not convinced that the GMO technology is being used responsibly or that GMO foods are safe.Some are concerned about the possible environment effects of horizontal breeding (taking a gene from one species and inserting it into another).Others believe the regulatory agencies in the United States have been unduly influenced by the biotech industry.Some question whether the studies (though there are a couple of thousand of them) actually reflect the safety of eating GMO foods.There are many more reasons for GMO foods not being popular.


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