GMO Statistics

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are becoming an increasing part of the American food supply, as GMO statistics can show. GMOs are living things that have been subject to genetic alterations to benefit humans.

Genetically modified soybean crop

Common forms of genetic modification are:

• Cloning
• Giving livestock growth hormones
• Giving plants herbicide or pesticide resistant properties
• Mixing genes to make new foods
• Adding genes to plants to make them hardier

According to GMO Compass, the global hectares of GMOs grew from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 102.0 million hectares in 2006 and the majority of these crops were grown for herbicide tolerance. This allows farmers to spray for weeds without worrying about killing their crops at the same time. The most common herbicides these plants are resistant to are glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the weed killer, Roundup, so these plants are often called "Roundup Ready."

GMO statistics show that the country with the highest amount of genetically modified foods as of the year 2000 was by far the United States. According to Stanford University, the breakdown by country of the four largest producers was as follows:

• United States – 68%
• Argentina – 23%
• Canada – 7%
• China – 1%

Other countries that have grown GMOs commercially are Uruguay, Australia, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Mexico, South Africa and Romania.

According to the USDA, the most commonly grown GMO in 2000 was cotton, with 61% of the crop genetically modified. For soybeans, 54% of the crop was genetically modified. Corn was 25% genetically modified. Other crops that are modified are sugar beets, rice, spinach and cabbage.

One of the most common genetic modifications of animals is injecting bovine growth hormone into cows to make them grow bigger and produce more milk. According to a 2008 study by the National Research Council, it takes just 843,000 modified cows to garner the milk yield of one million untreated cows, which saves 2.3 million metric tons of cattle feed and 540,000 acres of land to grow other crops. However, these numbers are debatable.

Also, GMO statistics show that the hormone is harmful to cows, increasing their risk of udder infections and requiring them to be treated with more antibiotics. According to ActionPA, a Pennsylvania based research organization:

• Cows treated with BGH have a 79% increase in udder infections.
• In 1989 the Wall Street Journal cited that 20% of milk on the market had illegal antibiotics in it.
• Over 80% of Pennsylvanians polled in 1990, when the hormone was first introduced, supported product labeling.

Currently, milk and other products from genetically modified animals does not have to be labeled as such. Some producers voluntarily label their products as not genetically modified.

There are hundreds or sources that compile statistics regarding GMOs from an economic standpoint and a food safety standpoint. Several resources where up to date information is available are:

• The United States Department of Agriculture’s Website
• GMO Compass
• Access My Library
• GMO Food for Thought

It’s important to consider the source when looking at GMO statistics. There are organizations that are strong proponents of GMOs and those that are strongly opposer the practice This has led to controversy. Each organization can conduct its own study and highlight the results that support its position in the study’s analysis. For a truly unbiased look, it takes comparing the results of several different studies and considering how they were measured and by whom.

Regardless of what the GMO statistics say, there are many that do not want to purchase modified products. The only way to prevent doing so in the United States is to buy organic. GMOs, and products that have an ingredient derived from a GMO, cannot have the USDA organic seal on their labels.

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