Journalist and author Nathanael Johnson was skeptical of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) when he began a six-month investigative series about their use in food production. He opposed what they stood for, not necessarily that they were unsafe.
Twenty-six stories later, the food writer for Grist – an online environmental magazine based in Seattle – has a different view.
A cautious and questioning person by nature, Johnson recently said at some point society has to move on and trust science. Exhaustive research, countless interviews with scientists and government officials and talking with people on both sides of the issue all led to the same conclusion.
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Ultimately, he said a lot of fact-finding didn’t matter because much of the skepticism and fear of GMOs comes from the great disconnect between “eaters,” as Johnson likes to call consumers, and production agriculture. The vast majority of Americans, including people in the Heartland, are several generations removed from the farm. “(People) are fundamentally alienated from their food supply. They want their food dollar to make the world a better place, and they are not convinced (GMOs) will,” Johnson said.
Read the full, original article: GMOs: “What’s the Big Deal?”
