Genetically modified foods or GM foods is a term used for foods that are made from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) who’s DNA has been altered through genetic engineering. Genetic modification is a special set of technologies through which the genetic makeup of the living organisms like animals, plants, bacteria and even humans can be altered to produce a specific set of characteristics in them. The process through which the genes from different organisms is combined together is known as recombinant DNA technology, that gives birth to organisms known as “genetically modified organisms”. The various genetically modified products available today includes medicines and vaccines, foods and food ingredients, feeds, and fibers. It was in 1990s that the GM foods were fist introduced in the market. The process of producing GMO for use in developing GM foods may involve taking DNA from one organism, then modifying it in the laboratory, and then finally inserting it into the target organism’s genome to produce new and useful genotypes or Phenotypes. Such GMOs are generally referred to as transgenics. There is another method of producing GMO that includes either increasing or decreasing the number of copies of a gene already present in the target organism; silencing or removing a particular gene or by modifying the position of a gene within the genome. The important point here is the not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be transferred into a plant! Thus a genetically modified plant with enhanced desired traits like increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content etc. is produced. The fruit of this genetically modified plant is thus referred to as GM food. The first commercially grown genetically modified whole food crop was the Flavr Savr tomato, which was made more resistant to rotting. Calgene was the company that introduced these GM tomatoes into the market in 1994 and that too without any special labeling of it being a GM food!

You must be thinking how conventional cross breeding/ high breeding of plants which has been carried out since ages is different from the recently invented genetically modified plants? In conventional breeding half of an individual’s genes come from each parent, whereas in genetic engineering one or several specially selected genes are added to the genetic material. The other important difference lies in the fact that conventional plant breeding can only combine closely related plants, where as genetic engineering permits the transfer of genes between organisms which might not otherwise be able to cross breed because of their non compatible genetic structure. These transferred genes known as transgene can come from any other plant species, or even from a completely different organism like animals or even humans (e.g., bacterial genes)!

Most of the genetically modified crop plants developed till date provides resistance to herbicide or insects; improved crop production and soil management. These characteristics of the GM crops have revolutionized world agriculture and are thought to be a big relief to the developing countries fighting poverty and malnutrition. The GM crop is said to be a farmer friendly crop where the inputs like pesticides and insecticides are reduced heavily due to the inbuilt resistance of the plant apart from increasing the crop production. Some of the crops even require less amount of irrigation that again is a big relief to the over burdened farmers in developing countries which mainly depends on rain water for irrigation. Researches are being going on to develop varieties which are also resistant to drought, heat, cold, acid soils, and heavy metals so that more of the land can be brought under agriculture and even the presently existing ones can be ideally used, increasing the food availability to ward of global food crisis.

But this is only the better half of the story. The GM foods and crops are surrounded by many controversies with focus on a variety of issues ranging from human and environmental safety, food security, labeling and consumer choice, environmental conservation, intellectual property rights, ethics and poverty reduction. Many religious and environmental organizations, public interest groups and governments world over are protesting against the use of GM foods and crops. One of the biggest dangers of the genetically modified crops/plants is that they tend to pose life threat to other organisms. Due to their self induced insecticidal/herbicidal tendencies which tend to kill the bugs or weeds can also damage the other non harming insects and plants too. A study has shown that pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterfly caterpillars. Is not the caterpillar alone but unfortunately many species of insect larvae gets killed by the B.t. toxins. Thus there is a high possibility of potential risk to the non-target organisms from these GM crops. The herbicidal tendencies of the plant might kill the insects useful for maintaining a healthy structure of the soil, disrupting the soil ecosystem.

Not only this, there is also a high probability that the pests might develop resistance to these inbuilt pesticides, rendering the crop vulnerable to pest attack. This will rather worsen the situation more than spraying the pesticides directly in to the field as the continuous presence of these self initiated pesticides by the plant will make the pests adapt to it sooner than before.

Another major concern is that their might be a cross breeding of the GM plant engineered for herbicide tolerance and that of the weed! This cross breeding of the GM and the weed might result in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the GM crops into the weeds resulting in weeds being resistant to the herbicides produced by the bio engineered crop plant. Another possibility of cross breeding of the GM crop is that it might transfer certain of its genes to the other non engineered healthy plants/crops in the neighbourhood due to the action of wind, pollination etc. All this will adversely affect bio diversity of the region.

Not only that it’s the environment alone that is under a threat by the GM crops but even humans are equally at a risk to these. There is a possibility that introduction of a gene into a plant may cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. Studies have shown children across US and Europe developing life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. In 1996, Brazil nut genes were introduced into soybeans by the Pioneer Hi-Bred company which induced strong allergic reactions like anaphylactic shock (similar to a severe bee sting reaction) in some of the individuals, which could have even lead to death.

There is also a growing concern regarding the unexpected, negative and irreversible impact of introducing foreign genes into human body via food plants . Lab experiments on animals have shown the negative effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract. There is a possibility of developing cancer and other degenerative ailments in people who consume dairy products of cows injected with certain genetically produced growth hormones. Birth defects along with shorter life spans due to ingesting of transgenic human/ animal products may follow, as studies have already shown the rapid increase in birth defects and shorter life spans in cows due to rBGh which is a genetically produced growth hormone. The milk from cows with rBGH contains substantially higher levels of pus, bacteria, and fat. A study has also shown that certain GM foods have lower levels of vital nutrients especially phytoestrogen compounds thought to protect the body from heart disease and cancer. Thus there are possibilities of negative effect of GM foods on the human health.

    Though its still a matter of debate whether genetically modified foods and crops are a disaster or a blessing for the world, as studies are still going on to come up with a strong enough conclusion regarding the whole concept of GM technology and it’s effects. Though the controversy is still on, many states in both the developed as well as the developing world are rapidly bringing more and more area under GM crops. Presently only four major GM crops are dominating the globe which includes soybean, corn, cotton and canola (a type of mustard for industrial use), but many other crops like barley, sunflower, watermelon, cucumber, sugarbeet, fodder beet, cowpea, faba bean, carrot, papaya, plum, mango, cherry, pineapple, strawberry, grape, apple, pear, carnation, lettuce, alfalfa, apricot, peach, gerbera, chrysanthemum, pine tree, poplar types, eucalyptus etc are being researched upon. Though in India only Bt cotton which is a non food crop, is the only GM crop which is commercially grown and no genetically modified food crop till date is grown for commercial purpose. But researches on food crops like rice, chickpea, tomato, potato, tobacco, rapeseed, mustard, brinjal, cauliflower, chilli, bell pepper, banana, cabbage, muskmelon, blackgram, coffee, pigeonpea, wheat, citrus fruits and groundnut has been going on since years now. The governmental agencies confirms the report of the approval of large scale field trials of genetically modified brinjals, the Bt brinjal in India. Though India has allowed commercial cultivation of genetically modified cotton since 2002, it’s for the first time that a GM food is put on trial for human consumption. The news of genetically modified ‘protato’ added with AmA1 genes to make them high on protein has also made news in India for the possibility of it’s use to counter malnutrition. The idea of introducing these biotech potatoes in to the midday meal programme for redressing protein deficiencies in children’s diets, can indirectly target the young population of already vulnerable section in case we fail to detect the long term negative effects of these genetically modified food crops. Though for bulk imports of any GM food or material for any purpose requires the approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee in India but the recent reports of Pepsico’s Doritos Corn Chips contain genetically modified Mon 863 and NK 603 variety corn ingredients in them which were picked up from a Delhi store, indicates the lapses in the system. Both Mon 863 and NK 603 are Monsanto’s genetically modified corn varieties which contain bacterial genes used for pest and herbicide tolerance. Researches on both Mon 863 and NK 603 has confirmed that these two pose serious health impacts, resulting in many countries in Europe including France and Romania to stop the cultivation of GM corn! In India too none of these varieties have been approved for consumption by humans.

As the controversy get thicker and thicker though time, the choice lies with us, the consumer! Whether to consume these yet debated genetically modified foods, ignoring the possible threats that it pose to us and passing them to many of our forth coming generations or to resist this forceful feeding by the giant profit makers. The chose lies in our hands. The consumer has the power to shape it’s own future, where you can put pressure on the producers to provide you with what you demand and not the other way round. Let us not allow these money minting giants decide what they want to supply rather forcing them to supply what we actually demand. Next time you go out shopping keep in mind what you really demand, look for your choice on the shelves and let the shopkeeper know what you demand if it’s not in there rather than compromising with what is already on the shelf. Create a demand, let the suppliers know what you demand and the supply will surely follow. It’s not that difficult to change things as it might look. Take a step and things will follow. You’ll be proud of your self for the amount of difference that one small step of yours can bring in into the lives of millions on this earth.