GMO Researchers

            Genetically modified organisms are classified as organism that have been modified using genetic engineering techniques in order to alter their specific qualities. Talk about GMOs has become more common in recent years as they have become the source of genetically modified foods. In agriculture, genetically modified foods include crops such as corn and wheat. When these crops are genetically modified, they are engineered to have traits such as resistance to pests, herbicides and increased yield per acre. These genetically modified crops have been patented by large agricultural seed corporations such as Monsanto because of the high profitability they promise. Along with the companies placing patents on these genetically modified crops to ensure their ownership, these companies also do anything they can to limit the amount of research which is published regarding these crops and the risks associated with their use and consumption.

            Before customers are aloud to purchase and plant genetically modified seeds they must sign agreements that the seeds will not be used for independent research. This insures that the intellectual property of the seed companies is protected. It also limits scientists from figuring out if the crops really perform as advertised or if they have unintended environmental side effects. Many scientists still conduct independent research on genetically modified crops but they are forced to have their findings approved before they are published.

            Some scientists have chosen to speak out against GMOs and the companies that produce them. Many of these researchers have been silenced after being threatened by lawsuits from the major producers of genetically modified crops. One example of this was the firing and threat of lawsuits experienced by biologist Arpad Pusztai when he was given a research grant from the UK government. When Pusztai was interviewed on TV to share his findings he was fired after pressure from pro-GMO staff in the prime ministers office. Pusztai also faced lawsuits from the agribusiness companies that produced the genetically modified seeds and saw his research team dismantled. Until the government does research or allows private research to be done we may never know the whole truth about genetically modified crops.