HELLO GMOS 

            Before we take a deep dive into analyzing GMO impact on the environment, it is important to understand the Earth’s current environmental situation. As the world progresses and the population grows at an exponential rate, many climatic problems such as the destruction of forests and wilderness, water quality problems, increased CO2 levels, and fluctuating weather conditions arise.

​

            A more specific agricultural problem that could be combated with the implementation of genetically modified foods is pesticide usage. Pesticides are toxins used in agriculture to “control weeds, insect infestation, fungal problems, germs and microbes, rodents, and diseases” that can cause significant public health problems (EPA, 2017). Studies show that genetically modified crops dramatically reduce pesticide use due to new genes within the chemical makeup of GMOs that fight off insect pests and bacteria. Genetically modified herbicide tolerant technology is used in common crops such as “maize, cotton, canola (spring oilseed rape), soybean, sugar beet and alfalfa” and has proven to prevent the need for pesticides (Brookes, 2018). According to the meta-analysis of the genetically modified crops impacts, “GM technology has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 percent” (Klümper, W and M Qaim, 2014). If GMOs were implemented in our everyday lives, we as a population could back away from pesticide usage and encourage better environmental conditions that would greatly benefit wildlife.

​

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Along with reducing the needs for pesticides, the use of genetically modified crops has shown to result in permanent savings in carbon dioxide emissions. It is stated that, “The fuel savings associated with making fewer spray runs in GM IR crops of maize and cotton (relative to conventional crops) and the switch from Conventional Tillage (CT) to Reduced Tillage or No Tillage (RT/NT) farming systems facilitated by GM HT crops, have resulted in permanent savings in carbon dioxide emissions” (Brookes, 2018). As a result of GM crop usage, carbon dioxide emissions have been dramatically reduced through conservation tillage and decreased fuel use. Based on the new farming systems implemented in North and South America centered around genetically modified crops, it is estimated that “an extra 6,586 million kg of soil carbon has been sequestered in 2016 (equivalent to 24,172 million kg of carbon dioxide that has not been released into the global atmosphere)” (Brookes, 2018). The savings listed above are equivalent taking 15 million cars not driving on the road for the entirety of a year.

​

            The implementation of genetically modified crops as a food source should be further normalized and considered because the environmental impact of GMOs is positive and has great potential to slow the rising CO2 levels and pesticide pollution.