Many of our current crops are what you would call genetically modified. This means that certain plants are taken to a laboratory where specific genes are genetically enhanced with desired traits such as resistance to herbicides, insecticides, drought and even improved nutritional content. Although this may seem like a win for everyone, such as farmers and consumers, there are many downsides that affect not only our health, but also our environment as well as the economy. With several facts that have been demonstrated, the benefits of genetically modified crops should not outweigh the bad and ultimately we may be solving a problem now, but creating a much bigger one for our future. Genetically modified crops were first introduced in 1996. They now make up more than 80 percent of our soybeans, corn and cotton grown in the United States today (genetically modified crops benefit many farmers). Many farmers embraced growing genetically modified crops because of all the benefits they seemed to have, not only with less use of herbicides and insecticides, but also because of the lesser environmental impact they had. For some crops, it is not cost effective to pull weeds. while plowing. Instead, some farmers take on not only the longer, but also more expensive task of spraying their crops with large quantities of different herbicides to kill weeds. While this doesn't seem like a bad idea, it's because many of these herbicides can stay in the soil and linger in our waterways. However, there are genetically modified crops with very potent herbicide genes that not only repel many weeds, but also prevent environmental damage by reducing the need for herbicide sprays (harmful or helpful?). While this may seem like an easy win middle of paper... trumps any pro out there and that's not even getting into the health risks of eating genetically modified foods. So even though the intention of these cultures at the moment was good, there are too many bad things that come with them. Remember, “You are what you eat” and solving one problem now will only create a much bigger one in the future. 2000nationalacademies.orgDate: April 13, 2010Contacts: Jennifer Walsh, Media Relations OfficerMolly Galvin, Senior Media Relations OfficerAlison Burnette, Media Relations AssistantOffice of News and Public Information202-334-2138; e-mail [email protected]/gmoinyourfood Genetically modified (GMO) foods may pose a national health risk © Copyright 2004 by Jeffrey M. Smith