Congratulations Erin Mastre, your argument about GMOs being the next plague is perfectly designed to cater to fear-mongers. Your “arguments” are based on emotions with little to no scientific evidence. Sounds a lot like propaganda to me.

Despite those “far superior” Europeans being the only people “concerned” about GMO, the topic is just as hotly debated in America as well. Although it doesn’t get the headlines in it deserves because the newspapers are too busy reporting what Barrack Obama ate for lunch. You say that “the Europeans have 4,200 municipalities and tens of thousands of farmers declared as GMO free.”

Funny, because looking at the top 10 states in America (in 2005, mind you) for organic production here, I see more than 6,000 certified organic operators. I also see that there is well over 500,000 acres of certified organic land. I can have a former roommate (an organic farmer, no less) call you to tell you what it takes for land to be certified organic. It isn’t quick or easy. Looks like those tens of thousands of acres of nothing to compare to our half of a million. Bonus fact: Iowa has 64,000 certified organic acres and 450 certified organic producers. Not great. But not bad.

What we may lack in products labeled as “GMO” in the grocery stores, I’m willing to bet GMOs are regulated just as tightly here in America as they are in Europe.

It’s not like some mad scientist can put any trait in anything he or she wants and sell it to the public. That’s asinine to think. I say this because America is a capitalist country. A company’s main objective is to turn a profit. It is true: GMO crops sell well. So, it is in a company’s best financial interests to adhere to the strict government regulations when developing crops with GMO. Type “StarLink corn” into your Google search bar and see how that is working out for Aventis CropScience. You think they want to pay millions of dollars in fines just to pollute their consumer base? And yes, I have worked first hand with dealing with the regulations involving development of GMO crop varieties.

You seem extremely concerned about putting a GMO-based food product in your body because you claim its DNA is contaminated and therefore unstable and unpredictable. I sure hope you never microwave any food then, because microwaves are known mutagens and will alter the DNA of whatever it is you’re eating. Careful now, don’t get a vaccine either, because there is a slight possibility that the virus is still active. What about cell phones? Do they cause brain cancer? I bet that research won’t scare you enough not to answer your friend’s phone call.

Good luck with keeping your genome free from mutagens — make sure to stay out of the sun, that’s really bad for causing thymine dimers and skin cancer.

I’ll concede this: You are absolutely correct. More research does need to be done on GMOs, and every other technology that is new and cutting edge, but don’t scorn giant seed companies for trying to make their businesses successful. Not to stereotype here, but the same people who complain about GMOs are the same people complaining about world hunger. Here’s another Google search bar term for you: “golden rice.” I guess all those millions of kids will go without Vitamin A for 20 or 30 years while we research the effects of GMOs. I wonder how you would feel if eating GMO corn and rice was the only other alternative to starving…

K.J. Kocak

Junior

Agronomy