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Here, we will talk about what GMOs really are and introduce how they are a big part of today's worldwide agriculture and their tough impact on small farms and farmers everywhere.
GMOs... What are GMOs?
Lets start with the basics, GMOs are Genetically Modified Organisms that have been introduced genetic material to cause an effect or change in. Almost all GMOs are foods that people eat everyday, some of the most common being corn, tomatoes, and even strawberries.
The Reason Why Many Farmers Use GMOs
The main reason why so many farmers use GMOs is because they allow the crops to grow larger and faster, usually meaning making more money while consuming less time. Using GMOs is all because of one main point, increasing crop yields while also lowering the use of pesticides, which can all help save money and or allow a farmer to make more money.
The Comparison
However, this may not be completely true, with some studies showing that using Genetic Modifications actually led to a lower crop yield/smaller products as you can see in the picture to the left. The picture on the right-hand-side is the result of both being left out for a night for the squirrels. As you can obviously see, the squirrels chose to munch much more on the organic cob of corn, showing how GMOs are even less appealing to the ecosystem, deviating from the normal path of nature.
GMOs In Our Daily Lives
"From cows NOT treated with rBST" That's a fairly common sticker we see on the milk we buy at local markets like Lucky's and Safeway. GMOs can be harmful to our health because they are not organic; they have had their genes modified to change their structure, all to increase the farmers' own profits.