Blog #5- The Future of Food:

Prior to watching the Future of Food, I would not use the word fear to describe how I feel about genetically modified foods. I would say I find it frustrating and unfair for companies to not be completely honest about what constitutes their food products, but I have never regarded GMO’s as having the potential to be significantly harmful for humans. This film opened my mind to the power of companies such as Monsanto who use their patents to attempt to control the entire farming system, and have dangerous influence in the Environmental Protection agency. After watching the film would certainly say I have fears about eating genetically modified foods because of how little I trust companies such as Monsanto.

An issue that cannot be ignored is who is responsible for the safety of food products. It was disturbing to hear how many powerful people working for the EPA used to work for Monsanto; but more disturbing is the fact that the FDA is anything less that impeccable. Inadequate testing and not requiring labels for some GMOs are two ways FDA is being irresponsible. I was amazed that terms such as “substantially equivalent”, or GRAS- meaning a food product is generally recognized as safe are enough to give a food product credibility. The film quotes a statement taken from Monsanto: “Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food, out interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA’s job.” But if the FDA is not doing their job- then who can be held accountable? It is not ethically sound for companies to no want to label their food as containing GMO’s for profit gain, but it is plain wrong for companies to not want to use labels because of foreseen liability issues. If companies were confident that their products were safe, why would anticipate such liability?

The film discussed how many different types of potatoes and apples are not widely grown anymore. I have always been proud to say that Washington has great signature apples, just as someone from Idaho might say about their potatoes. It is a realistic fear that we will soon have even less varieties. Fortunately Mexico continues to sustain their corn varieties. I enjoyed the Mexican gentlemen’s take on seeds and grains essentially being the same thing and why shouldn’t a farmer assume that there is an embryo (baby) inside that seed? It is interesting that Mexican farmers rely of wild corn strain, Teocintlen, to mix with their cultivated strain- because this wild strain has resistance. I think the power and ability of nature to take care of itself is underestimated. I was angered at the thought of how destructive it would be for the genetically altered corn to invade some of Mexico’s corn and completely destroy it. The film touched upon the idea that gaining efficiency with farming sacrifices diversity, no only plant diversity but also intellectual diversity. The effects of genetically modified food on the immune system and it toxicity have not been tested thoroughly, and companies like Monsanto seem to have the power to stop such research.

Another big question the film brought to my mind is property rights. I have difficulty understanding how basic property rights can be destroyed. The idea that it is your job to fence your property in and protect it from outside factors outside your control doesn’t make logical sense to me. The farmer, who was taken to court by Monsanto because their seed found its way into his fields and cross pollinated, referred to the system of food as a “Feudal system.” Essentially whoever controls the seed controls the food. But the only reason companies like Monsanto can have so much power, is because their products are being purchased. Consumers have the power to make changes. Just like the protest for better organic standard prevailed, so can the demand for safe food, and labeling. We as consumers need accurate information so we need to continue to exercise our rights.

“The next green revolution.” Economist. 386 (2008): 81-82.