Earth Day and GMOs
I did nothing exciting or worthy for Earth Day 2015. I ran though my normal life. Between school buses, grocery shopping, homework and photography class it was a normal, glorious day in Crazyville. Did a lack for enthusiasm or action make me a bad person for not embracing Earth Day? No. I had a bigger project on the horizon that centered around our earth.
Several months ago the Illinois Farm Bureau reached out to their City Moms (former Field Moms) and asked if a limited number of us would be interested in visiting Monsanto's office in St. Louis. The invitation stated we would tour their biotech research center and meet with scientists. The doors were opened, literally, for us to ask any questions about genetic modified organisms (GMOs).
Why did I enthusiastically sign up to go? Basically, I am feed up with confusion that surrounds GMOs. Every time I turned on some form of media an "expert" claimed GMOs are linked to the decline of our civilization and the rise to climate change. Why should I feel bad for a grocery cart not stuffed with non-GMO foods? The local garden center featured non-GMOs veggie seeds this year. Should I be worried? For the record only corn, soy and papaya GMOs are in our food supply.
My goals for this trip are:
Below is what I learned about GMOs on several farm tours:
On a side note, I have noticed several print advertisements for Monsanto in magazines. Is Monsanto re-branding itself to consumers? If so, why?
Stay turned to learn what I discover. Do you have a question about GMOs? Ask below and I will bring it with me.
Sharon, The Mayor
Several months ago the Illinois Farm Bureau reached out to their City Moms (former Field Moms) and asked if a limited number of us would be interested in visiting Monsanto's office in St. Louis. The invitation stated we would tour their biotech research center and meet with scientists. The doors were opened, literally, for us to ask any questions about genetic modified organisms (GMOs).
Why did I enthusiastically sign up to go? Basically, I am feed up with confusion that surrounds GMOs. Every time I turned on some form of media an "expert" claimed GMOs are linked to the decline of our civilization and the rise to climate change. Why should I feel bad for a grocery cart not stuffed with non-GMO foods? The local garden center featured non-GMOs veggie seeds this year. Should I be worried? For the record only corn, soy and papaya GMOs are in our food supply.
My goals for this trip are:
- Concrete, scientific proof GMOs are safe for human consumption.
- Long-term studies of GMOs on humans and animals.
- Impact or lack of impact GMOs have on the environment
- If Monsanto believes GMOs are safe, what do they serve in their employee cafeteria?
- Why Monsanto fights GMO labeling.
- Why did the EU and China ban GMOs?
- Why chose such a scary name for GMO?
Below is what I learned about GMOs on several farm tours:
- What makes a GMO is a change to the actual DNA chain of the seed. This is not cross-breeding.
- There are no nutritional differences between GMO and conventional foods.
- A farmer spends less time in his/her tractor with a GMO seed because they do not need to spray, till or weed as often. This means less pesticides, herbicides, top soil erosion and gas fumes.
On a side note, I have noticed several print advertisements for Monsanto in magazines. Is Monsanto re-branding itself to consumers? If so, why?
Stay turned to learn what I discover. Do you have a question about GMOs? Ask below and I will bring it with me.
Sharon, The Mayor
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