Background Tutorial/FAQ

FAQs

What is your motivation for this project?

We are excited to learn more about GMO production and the advantages and disadvantages of using them. We hope to draw light on a viable process for optimizing the production of GMOs and non-GMO products.

Where are you gathering your information and sources from?

The information gathered for this project will derive from our research. This research will be conducted mainly on online databases, where we have access to an abundance of academic journals, studies, and experiments. In addition, we hope to get in contact with a local Pennsylvania farm to learn more about their agricultural practices and how they go about producing GMOs or non-GMO products.

What are GMOs?

GMO stands for genetically modified organism. A GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been modified through genetic engineering techniques. Genetic modifications are seen in agricultural products, livestock, and pharmaceuticals. Often times, the organisms are altered to improve upon crop yield, shelf life, and nutrition.

Is genetic engineering a new technology?

Genetic engineering and GMOs were introduced in the 1980s. Although the genetic engineering techniques used today, where DNA is modified in a laboratory, is relatively young, genetic manipulation has been utilized by humans for centuries. The work of geneticist Gregor Mendel provides information on how crops can be cross bred to produce a desired strain of the species. However, traditional cross breeding methods limit genetic possibilities as only related species can be crossed. This led to genetic engineering, where products can be transgenic, where unrelated genetic material can be inserted into an organism. A popular example is when scientists were able to make a sheep glow in the dark by inserting genes from jellyfish into the genetic code of the sheep.

Are non-GMOs better for you?

Often times, there is a negative stigma associated with GMOs. However, the long term effects of GMOs on the health of the earth and its inhabitants is still unknown due to the youth of the technology. In this study, we aim to deduce whether or not GMOs have an financial, environmental, and qualitative impact on the agricultural industry. We aim to form a suggestion based on a life cycle assessment either for the utilization of GMO technology or to use non-GMOs.

What is meant by the financial, environmental and qualitative impact on the agricultural industry?

We are looking to assess whether using non-GMOs versus GMOs is more cost effective. Additionally, we plan to analyze the environmental impact of non-GMOs versus GMOs. Finally, we want to know whether or not a better quality product is produced when using non-GMOs or GMOs.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment?

The life cycle of a product starts with the extraction of the materials required to produce the product via the use to the disposal of the product. First, the inputs of materials and energy to the product during its life cycle are determined, as well as all emissions to the environment during the life cycle. Then, the environmental impacts of these flows between the product system and the environment is quantified.

Example:

For the production of 1 kg barley, one would assess the production, transport, use and emissions of fertilizers and pesticides, the production and use of agricultural machinery, the production and use (combustion) of fuel, amongst others.