Blog 7

Do the pros of GMOs outweigh the cons why or why not? How would the labeling of GMOs affect the food market? How does the media's portrayal of GMOs affect bills being passed? 

In regards to GMOs I would say that the cons definitely outweigh the pros. Although GE crops are resistant to glyphosate, there are now "superweeds" that are also resistant to roundup causing companies like Monsanto to seek approval of a new type of GE crop that would be resistant to the use of an even stronger pesticide. This makes it seem as though even the pros of GMOs eventually create their own cons. First, you create a crop that is resistant to one type of herbicide, then the weeds become stronger and more resistant to it as well which in turn just creates the need for an even stronger and more dangerous herbicide and the cycle goes on and on. Every solution created by GMOs appears to only create a new problem eventually. Labeling of GMOs would, I think, affect the food market in a positive way. It would allow the consumer to make informed purchases without necessarily restricting them to products labeled "organic". The media's portrayal of GMOs, which is certainly influenced at least monetarily by biotech companies, affects bills being passed by sending a message to the voter (however untrue) that there are no health risks directly related to the consumption of foods containing GMOs. The media coverage also focuses largely on the fact that the creation of mandatory GMO labeling would raise the cost of food for Americans.