Organic Agriculture and Prohibition Genetic Modification

Organic Agriculture completely prohibits the use of synthetic substances, and Genetic Modification is not an exemption. Genetic modification is an innovation in genetic engineering in which the DNA structure of plants is altered to produce desirable traits. GMOs or genetically modified organisms are very common in conventional farms. Plants genes are restructured to make them more resistant to diseases, have the capability to grow and bear produce faster, as well as to be able to bear bigger produce. This has proven to be very profitable for farmers because it greatly increases their yields which will translate to more profits. It also reduces the chances of loss due to pests and diseases.

Organic Agriculture prohibits the use of genetic modification because of the hidden dangers it might contain. Genetic modification is still a very new science and it is yet to be fully understood by the scientific community. Forcefully changing the genetic makeup of plants and animals is yet to be proven completely safe. The process may lead to the development of unknown strains of diseases of harmful substances inside the body of the GMOs. This is why majority of the community disapproves the integration of genetic modification to organic farming. There are even countries that are currently implementing a total ban on genetically modified organisms.

There are other supporters of Organic Agriculture that advocate the integration of genetic modification to organic farming. They claim that genetically modified organisms due not violate any of the norms of organic food sector because though the DNA structure has been altered, it remains free of any synthetic substances. They believe that in order for the sector to be able to compete and ultimately surpass conventional agriculture in terms of acceptance by the consuming public, it must make use of GMOs so that organic farmers can cut down their costs. Lower costs will then lead to lower prices. The fact the organic foods cost more than their conventional counterparts is currently considered as the biggest disadvantage of switching to the organic diet.

Organic Agriculture remains firm in its exclusion of GMOs from acceptable methods. It argues that though no synthetic substances are contained in GMOs, the fact that their genetic makeup has been tampered with no longer makes then eligible of being natural. It has further stated however that it will reconsider its position once conclusive evidence is presented about the safety of genetically altered produce. Since there are still no known ways to fully analyze all the changes alteration in the DNA structure may cause, the inclusion of GMOs in organic farming is to be unseen in the near future.