Genetically modified organisms are any organism, whether that be a plant or an animal, that has had its DNA modified with technology. The purpose is to give the species a desirable trait, whether adjusting the size, look, color, etc. GMOs are very polarizing, with naysayers feeling it is against Mother Nature's will, the human health impacts, or ruining local farming communities. Although some may feel it's destructive, they also solve numerous issues. They yield stronger and numerous crops, they are cheaper and faster to produce, and they can help feed communities in which crops are hard to grow.
We have always used GMOs from the dawn of time, as hunter-gatherers, early man domesticated animals and crops to fit our unique needs as a society. The only difference now is that we have the technology to advance evolution much faster. Scientists widely view GMOs as untested for the long-term health impacts, but the government claims there are no known effects from consuming GMOs. In fact, the United States government is not required to label foods as genetically modified, so it is nearly impossible to consume non-modified foods. According to Fordham's research 66% of our organic crops are genetically modified. America is the top producer of genetically modified foods globally.
The concern from the public is that if GMOs are safe to consume wholeheartedly, why isn't it expressed through labelling? Corn, soy, and oilseed rape are amongst the most popular of the modified foods and are untraceable to identify as genetically modified. Small modifications have been made to make these groups produce bug repellent pesticides and insecticide toxins, the dosage of which can vary from plant to plant. Unfortunately, testing has been few and far between on how pesticides from GMOs affect our metabolic systems.
On a global scale, 50% of small-scale farmers are undernourished. GMOs have the potential to yield more and feed smaller-scale farmers within developing countries. GMOs have been reported to raise crop yield to 22% and farmer income to 68%. GMOs are a million-dollar business, but the success ranges depending on farm size and the expense of purchasing GMO seeds.