I recall drives through Kansas where there were fields of corn and other crops that had signs designating different rows of the plants as different hybrids. That memory made me think about the differences between hybrid plants and those that have been genetically modified (GMOs). I knew those fields in Kansas were planted to study which hybrid gave the best yields. The researchers would consider disease and pest exposure and rainfall and other weather conditions. The yields under those various conditions would then tell the seed companies and farmers which hybrids they should plant in coming years. That research and the information developed was and is a key to keeping up with the appetite of a hungry world.

The development of hybrids seems to be surrounded by little controversy while the GMOs have many critics. There is an article in motherearthnews.com that provides answers about why research on hybrids doesn’t generate the controversy with GMOs. The article explains that researchers have been cultivating new plant varieties since the beginning of agricultural research by crossing compatible plants within the same species. Development of the desired hybrid has been a lengthy process involving several growing seasons, although modern research has sped up the process considerably. About.com informs that seeds from hybrid plants tend to revert to the qualities of the parents and therefore don’t offer the advantages of the hybrid, but that also means there are no residual risks.

GMOs are created in the laboratory and not in research plots of plants. They are made with complex technology involving gene splicing from several species. The GMOs that are developed “…would never emerge in nature.” One example is a GMO corn variety developed by Monsanto using genetic material from a bacterium which kills European corn borers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved many GMO varieties for use in processed foods and animal feeds. One sweet corn GMO, which obviously is for human consumption, has been approved.

One argument against GMOs is that no one can predict the unintended consequences that might occur over a long period of time. Monsanto has increased suspicions by refusing to allow scientists to obtain and study their GMO seeds.

With that background, my plan is to post a commentary about arguments against GMOs next week and the arguments in favor the following week. Perhaps the discussions will help some decide whether they want to join the ranks who want their grocery store to promise they won’t stock GMOs. Or perhaps people will decide they want the increased crop yields from GMOs that will result in more people having something to eat.