The arguments for biotech-derived food or  genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have again been called into question. A new study by  investment group Portfolio 21 explains that, despite their widespread adoption mostly in North America, GMOs are not saving farmers money, they're not producing higher yields, and as many of us have suspected, they are causing no end of injury to the environment and human health.

According to their study, benefits concerning GMOs have no real basis in fact.

According to the report, rather than reduce the chemical load, GMOs now require an increasing amount and variety of chemicals to avoid being choked out by weeds and pests that have developed resistance to these man-made deterrents. they claim that farmers are having to douse more chemicals than ever on their crops just to remain viable, and even this will eventually fail as the newest chemicals lose their effective edge.

"Genetically modified agriculture reinforces many of the most damaging aspects of monoculture and mechanization," explains the report. "These include biodiversity loss, agro-chemical use, and accelerated soil exhaustion. Additionally, the foreign genetic material can spread beyond its intended area through cross-pollination and interbreeding, as well potentially migrate across species."

99.7% of GMO crop chemicals end up poisoning environment, water supplies

If all these chemical inputs were actually helping crops grow more quickly and produce greater yields, it might be contended that the benefits outweigh the risks. But most of these chemicals, up to 99.7%, end up seeping into soils and flowing through waterways into public water supplies, poisoning the environment for humans.

Chemical fertilizers have a similarly low success rate at reaching their target organisms. According to the report, up to 80% of applied nitrogen, for instance, which is essential for plant growth (and is synthetically added to conventional and GMO crops), ends up contaminating crop fields and water supplies, killing off sea life and creating so-called "dead zones."

"Less than 20% of synthetic nitrogen used in agriculture finds its way into crops or animal products used by humans," the report explains. "The rest is released into the surrounding environment, sometimes with cascading effects on water systems such as 'dead zones' caused by nitrogen-fueled algae blooms."

Beyond this, GMOs increase agricultural dependance on fossil fuels significantly, upping the amount needed to produce food from one calorie of fossil fuel per 2.3 calories of food to roughly 23 calories of fossil fuel per 2.3 calories of food. Fossil fuels are heavy polluters, and more of them are entering the environment as a result of biotechnology.

 

Many of you may not be aware but voting with your dollars by purchasing only organic food can really help stop this frightening trend.  It is truly important that the earth be protected and respected and that this corporate greed end while there is still time. Please take this seriously and do your part.  I also recommend you take a look at  this product to protect YOU and your family from all the toxic fall out.

 

Happy NEW Year!  Make some new and better choices!

The full Portfolio 21 report is available here:
Portfolio21.com.