In pursuit of sustainability, shoppers are reaching for the organic apple or the GMO-free chips. But if we truly want to reach that goal, on our next trip to the farmers’ market or grocery store, we should consider reaching for the genetically modified tomato or wheat instead.
In an era of climate change, a growing world population and finite resources, both producers and consumers are trying to make sustainable choices. … Nations are working together to reach unprecedented environmental goals. And deeply embedded in this unified effort lies one area that remains contentious and widely misunderstood: food.
The California drought of recent years has shown us the precious value of water, which can disappear as quickly as it can arrive. Several varieties of GMO crops can not only survive but also thrive in dry areas — helping to reduce irrigation and water use. On the opposite end of the spectrum, researchers have engineered rice that can grow in overly flooded rice paddy fields, a common occurrence in Asia. … Under these dire circumstances, genetically modified agriculture provides an avenue to feed Earth’s 7.6 billion people in both developing and industrialized nations.
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