The pros and cons of GMOs

The modified crops are causing controversy

DNA strands on plate
The cultivation of GMOs is highly controversial
(Image credit: Malte Mueller / Getty Images)

GMOs have long been at the center of debate — while some are wary of their health implications, others argue for their ability to make food healthier and more accessible.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a "plant, animal or microbe in which one or more changes have been made to the genome, typically using high-tech genetic engineering, in an attempt to alter the characteristics of an organism," said the National Human Genome Research Institute. As of 2020, "GMO soybeans made up 94% of all soybeans planted" in the U.S., while "GMO cotton made up 96% of all cotton planted and 92% of corn planted was GMO corn," said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Even so, the debate rages on.

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Devika Rao, The Week US

 Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.