Since genetically-modified organisms were introduced to supermarkets, there has been considerable debate about whether they are safe for consumption, and discussion about the ethical concerns that swirl around them. This video from Kurzgesagt takes a balanced approach to lay out the good and bad sides of GMO crops.
When farmers manipulated crops by crossing certain plants together, it seemed like a natural part of agriculture. When scientists sped that process up rather drastically by merely inserting new genes into a plant, it made some people uncomfortable. Humans stand to reap some great rewards from that process, like by creating an important crop that can be grown with less water. Or the technology may be used by a company that manufactures an herbicide they want to promote, which may be putting profits ahead of safety and ethical concerns. At the end of the day, thirty years of research says GMOs are safe to eat. Whether it’s important to avoid industrial agriculture is a question the individual must answer for themselves.
