Tag: GMO corn

Trial Run: The Success of Bt Corn in Kenya

Corn is one of the staple products in Africa. It gained popularity due to the fact it can be cultivated everywhere and in every possible temperature. Surely, the conditions in Africa are difficult and droughts are common but there are other issues that are causing a lot of trouble for the local farmers.

A couple of species of stem borers are known for attacking corn that is cultivated in Africa. This is a huge problem because thousands and thousands of people are relying on these plants as the source of food. Luckily, Bt corn did show great results in standing up to these pests and managing to thrive perfectly.

The research

A study that examined three harvest seasons in Kenya was released this month in the journal called Crop Protection. The scientists analyzed the produce to the smallest details, measuring both the number of successful crops, as well as the damage that was made by stem borers. This research included eighteen different sorts of crops and they were put to test at Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization. The examined corn ranged from the high-quality GMO hybrids, to local corn species that were not treated with Bt.

So over the course of three planting seasons, scientists measured the damage that was done to all planted crops as well as the general productivity. It was clear that the first planting season was an overall success with all crop variations. However, the number of healthy products did reduce in the second and third season. It was also evident that Bt corn hybrids yielded more produce than any other planted crop. Mon810 hybrids came in second place, while the non GMO corn gave the least amount of usable corn.

Bt and Mon810 corn hybrids performed really well against pests and they were able to keep all species of stem borers away. Since Bt corn is resistant to these pests “from the inside”, there is no need for farmers to spend their funds on various chemicals in order to treat the outside of their crops. Therefore, Bt corn has a huge impact on the economy, and it can be an excellent source of affordable food to the entire region.

Conclusion

Even though GMO seeds are not widespread in Africa, it is clear that the countries that have implemented the new technology into their agriculture are generally more successful. South Africa is the leading force in producing GMO corn and the surrounding countries are following the same path. Since Bt corn seems to thrive in harsh African weather and the crop is resistant to pests, it is clear that this plant might be the future of farming on this continent.

Everyone would benefit from planting and producing Bt corn, but most importantly – a large number of people would stop worrying about their next meal. Famine is a real problem in Africa and since technology did come a long way, this is a step forward in helping those in need. Bt corn did pass the tests and now we can only hope that it will be accepted by the government in Kenya.

Source: Breaking.com.mx

The latest revelation: Vitamin C in Supplements Is Made From GMO Corn

Having in mind that the modern life is fast and that we are definitely not getting enough vitamins and nutrients from the foods we consume, taking different supplements became a common occurrence. Yes, it is great that you are taking care of yourself and thinking about your health, but are you really aware of the origin of the substances you are consuming? If the answer is no, you will be very surprised.

The majority of companies that manufacture supplements are very loud when it comes to advertising and they are prone to making sensational claims. Mike Adams, a notable scientist and an author of the book called Food Forensics told Natural News that not all supplements are created equal and the fact that the word “pure” or “natural” is printed on the packaging does not guarantee that you will be getting an organic and healthy supplement that is ridden of all chemicals or toxins.

He was particularly vocal about vitamin C supplements you can buy in stores all around the country and made a revelation that the said vitamin C is derived from GMO corn. Vitamin C is extracted from ascorbic acid and it is in almost every case obtained from the genetically modified corn. If you want to purchase completely organic vitamin C supplement, you will need to do so from Europe because their GMO laws are very strict and the supplements go through plenty of tests before they are approved for mass production and distribution.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the genetically modified corn is toxic or dangerous. However, if the manufacturers of the said supplement are advertising it as an immunity booster that will help you fight or prevent the common cold, you will have more luck if you go for the supplement that extracts the vitamin C from a pure and natural source. Natural vitamin C has a lot more benefits than the synthetic one because you will be getting additional enzymes that will help your body use vitamin C in the best possible way.

Sure enough, there are plenty of scientists who oppose this finding and their main argument is that vitamin C is simply a chemical and that it doesn’t matter where it comes from as long as it does its work and achieve the same final result. As we have previously mentioned, GMO corn seems to be completely safe for human consumption and there are no recorded complications, but of course, we cannot say that for certain until we have some scientific results that examined the long term effect on humans. We simply need more solid scientific proof.

The production of organic and clean vitamin C in the US is demanding and there are not many manufacturers who want to get into it. It costs a lot of money and requires a number of regulations and permits. However, there are a couple of companies who are trying to launch their own productions at the moment.

All in all, it is impossible to tell if vitamin C derived from GMO corn is completely different from the organic vitamin C without extensive long term research. Luckily, there are plenty of ongoing trials right now that will very likely give us more information about the effects of genetically modified foods and plants in the near future.

Food production technology is constantly evolving. As a consumer, you should definitely be more involved into knowing exactly what you consume because not everything is very transparent. Check the labels and ingredients regularly, especially on the store bought supplements. The fine print is there for a reason and you should always keep that in mind.