Foods / Monday, 08-Sep-2025

Viewpoint: ‘Overhyped, speculative, and fear mongering’ — How biotechnology critics have lobbied to mislead the public on the science of GM crops

Viewpoint: ‘Overhyped, speculative, and fear mongering’ — How biotechnology critics have lobbied to mislead the public on the science of GM crops

XLinkedInFacebookRedditBlueskyThreads
Masked Greenpeace activists hold signs during a demonstration in New Delhi. Credit: Reuters
Masked Greenpeace activists hold signs during a demonstration in New Delhi. Credit: Reuters

Most of the issues raised in available literature against GMOs on the grounds of health and environmental risks, and national food sovereignty concerns are overhyped, speculative and fear-mongering. 

Public interest and safety will be better assured and safeguarded if GMOs proponents and opponents reached consensus on standardization regarding tolerable level of harm and acceptable safety limit in interpreting impact assessment results of GMOs on health and environment.

Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

Regarding the argument of threat to food sovereignty, many anti-GM activists have vehemently argued against the patents regimes governing GM seeds, describing it as an attempt to control global food production by few corporations with the tendency of creating a situation where resource poor farmers will have to perpetually depend on biotech companies for their seeds. 

But the fact that other conventional bred seeds also have patents and protected by intellectual property rights, takes the argument of patents regime creating corporate control of the global market with consequence on national food sovereignty out of the GM debate. 

Therefore, the debate on whether or not these patents should exist in the first place is outside the scope of the GMO discussion and should be directed towards how best to attract and safeguard the huge investment required in producing successful GM seed.

Read the original post

combined disclaimer outlined@ x
donation plea outlined@ x
XLinkedInFacebookRedditBlueskyThreads
podcastsGLP Podcasts & Podcast VideosMore...
Video: Nuclear energy will destroy us? Global warming is an existential threat? Chemicals are massacring bees? Donate to the Green Industrial Complex!

Video: Nuclear energy will destroy us? Global warming is an existential threat? Chemicals are massacring bees? Donate to the Green Industrial Complex!

v facts and fallacies cameron and liza default featured image outlined

GLP podcast: Science journalism is a mess. Here’s how to fix it

Mosquito massacre: Can we safely tackle malaria with a CRISPR gene drive?

Mosquito massacre: Can we safely tackle malaria with a CRISPR gene drive?

dead bee desolate city

Are we facing an ‘Insect Apocalypse’ caused by ‘intensive, industrial’ farming and agricultural chemicals? The media say yes; Science says ‘no’

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...
science hand testtube x

Why is there controversy over GMO foods but not GMO drugs?

Genetic Literacy Project
international law x

How are GMOs labeled around the world?

Genetic Literacy Project
two types of breeding x

How does genetic engineering differ from conventional breeding?

Genetic Literacy Project
Screen Shot at AM

Alex Jones: Right-wing conspiracy theorist stokes fear of GMOs, pesticides to sell ‘health supplements’

T H LO

IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer): Glyphosate cancer determination challenged by world consensus

Most Popular

  • Trust issues: What happens when therapists use ChatGPT?

  • Fighting deforestation with CO2: Biotechnology breakthrough creates sustainable palm oil alternative for cosmetics

  • Viewpoint — Fact checking MAHA mythmakers: How wellness influencers and RFK, Jr. undermine American science and health

  • Viewpoint: Video — Big Solar is gobbling up productive agricultural land and hurting farmers yet providing little energy or sustainabilty gains

  • California, Washington, Oregon forge immunization alliance to safeguard vaccine access against federal undermining

  • 30-year-old tomato line shows genetic resistance to devastating virus

  • The free-range chicken dilemma: Better for birds, but with substantial costs

  • ‘You have to treat the brain first’: Rethinking chronic pain with Sanjay Gupta

Follow Us

Newsletter

Be the first to know about new products and promotions.

Subscribe with your email

Tranding

Tags

zolentz

Fresh, fast, and fun — all the entertainment you need in one place.

© Zolentz. All Rights Reserved. Designed by zolentz