Dear Intergovernmental panel,

 

          There is a lot of discussion on the topic about growth of GMO’s (Genetically modified organisms) in Bt (Bacillus thuringensis) corn and the affects it could have on the world.  There are pros and cons to any subject but in this case the cons outnumber the pros and until a safer way is developed to produce genetically modified food. I believe it should be strongly avoided by today’s population whenever possible.  This decision is based on the following evidence: First of all, according to <http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/killer-corn-12212012> Bt corn can have horrible side effects such as allergies to the treated corn (and anything else with GMO’s) and has been proven to cause tumors, liver and kidney damage, immune response issues, and premature death.  The Bt toxin has also been proven to pass down from the mother to the child which could be the cause of the increase of disorders since the Bt corn was first introduced in 1996.  The Bt corn is also harmful to small farms because of the contracts the small farms have to sign to use the corn. Secondly, In the U.S., foods do not have to be labeled to show whether they contain genetically engineered plants. This could be near impossible for people with GMO allergies avoid this food. As well as all these other problems there’s a risk that genetically engineered genes could be introduced into wild plants, reducing biodiversity and creating super-weeds while reducing pesticide use.  People who don't agree with this decision say developing pest-tolerant plants can reduce pesticide use however the pesticides are just as harmful as GMO’s and GMO’s are arguably more harmful in the long run.  People who disagree also say it’s  already used in 91% of corn in North America, and 70% of processed food contains corn and if it's legal it can't be that harmful however smoking is legal and there is more than enough evidence proving smoking is horrible for you.   If GMO’s are absolutely necessary in today’s food the research and development should be done to make safe and thoroughly tested GMO’s that are not harmful to humans and the ecosystem.  In conclusion, Bt corn is not safe and should not be used or eaten until a safer way to genetically engineer food is developed and tested.

 

Sincerely,

Cameron Galt

 

"Killercorn."Luther,Daisy.                                                                                                        <http://www.theorganicprepper.ca/killer-corn-12212012>.

 

 

"What Are the Pros & Cons of Transgenic Crops - The Maize Full Length CDNA Project." Arizona Genomics Institute, Arizona Genomics Computational Laboratory, Stanford University. <http://www.maizecdna.org/outreach/tpe.html>.

 

 

Orig, Thor S. "The Bt 'Corntroversy'" The Greenfields Magazine.

<http://bic.searca.org/feature/orig-corntroversy.html>.