Our class recently watched the film GMO OMG, which is a documentary following a young father and his family on the quest to learn more about how our food system is being infiltrated by genetically modified organisms and the impact these foods have on our body.
I would recommend the film, I believe that it does have an educational value but it also is entertaining and captures your attention. The family road trips to many different sites in the United States such as the Seed Savers Heritage Farm, which are working to preserve biodiversity and natural seeds. It was interesting to learn more about these initiatives and these organic farms across our country, I never knew these organizations existed before seeing the documentary.
I first learned about genetically modified organisms in my high school biology class, but it was not until watching another documentary Food Inc. that I learned more about how GMO's in our food system had started to affect farmers and shape our agriculture industry. Monsanto, is a corporation that developed the round up ready soybean, so the farmers could continue to use the round up pesticide, without compromising the plant's growth. The seeds are patented, so farmers are required to purchase new seeds every season. There are many issues with this patenting process, mainly because the GMO seeds are often spread unintentionally. Monsanto is pursuing lawsuits with numerous farmers and are looking for legal retribution, only to scare farmers into buying their seeds.
It is corporations such as Monsanto that is limiting the food autonomy. In this article by The Atlantic, the author explains how biodiversity is starting to become an issue that we need to worry about. The article explains how soybeans are one of the most commonly grown crop, and how half of all soybeans are GMOs. Three fourths of soybeans grown in the world come from the US, Brazil and Argentina, and are mainly used to feed cattle. By continuing to use GMO soybeans, we are keeping the genes of soybeans from evolving, limiting biodiversity.
Here is a blog from the La Via Campesino, which is an organization that works to fight for food sovereignty. They are currently fighting large companies such as Monsanto that is taking the power away from the people and are coercing them into planting their seeds. I first learned about La Via Campesino during my Fast Food Slow Food course, and we focused on how there are small groups of people who are focused on regaining autonomy within their food system. La Via Campesino is the perfect example of
In the film, Jeremy (the young father) tries to interview Monsanto officials and the secretive character of the company is highlighted. He stands outside explaining how he made attempts to contact the company asking for an interview, however he never heard back. Then when he walks into the office, immediately a receptionist tells him that someone is on the phone and would like to speak with him. The voice on the phone tells him to leave right away. This scene of the film struck me and showed how strong and intimidating this company is. If they were not willing to even be interviewed, it left me wondering what do are they hiding? Even if an audience member was not familiar with what Monsanto is, or their products; I believe that viewing this scene would leave them with questions to be answered.
I really enjoyed this documentary and I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in learning more about the food industry and how corporations have taken more and more control.
It is corporations such as Monsanto that is limiting the food autonomy. In this article by The Atlantic, the author explains how biodiversity is starting to become an issue that we need to worry about. The article explains how soybeans are one of the most commonly grown crop, and how half of all soybeans are GMOs. Three fourths of soybeans grown in the world come from the US, Brazil and Argentina, and are mainly used to feed cattle. By continuing to use GMO soybeans, we are keeping the genes of soybeans from evolving, limiting biodiversity.
Here is a blog from the La Via Campesino, which is an organization that works to fight for food sovereignty. They are currently fighting large companies such as Monsanto that is taking the power away from the people and are coercing them into planting their seeds. I first learned about La Via Campesino during my Fast Food Slow Food course, and we focused on how there are small groups of people who are focused on regaining autonomy within their food system. La Via Campesino is the perfect example of
In the film, Jeremy (the young father) tries to interview Monsanto officials and the secretive character of the company is highlighted. He stands outside explaining how he made attempts to contact the company asking for an interview, however he never heard back. Then when he walks into the office, immediately a receptionist tells him that someone is on the phone and would like to speak with him. The voice on the phone tells him to leave right away. This scene of the film struck me and showed how strong and intimidating this company is. If they were not willing to even be interviewed, it left me wondering what do are they hiding? Even if an audience member was not familiar with what Monsanto is, or their products; I believe that viewing this scene would leave them with questions to be answered.
I really enjoyed this documentary and I would recommend this film to anyone who is interested in learning more about the food industry and how corporations have taken more and more control.
I weep for the poor education you are receiving. You have not been taught the valuable life skills that would enable you to discern science facts from organic industry propaganda. You haven't learned how to fact check things you have been told and that has led you far off course when it comes to all the wonderful solutions science has discovered that help us feed billions of people on less and less land while at the same times using fewer and less toxic pesticides than ever before. I hope you are only in highschool and that maybe college will teach you better life skills. Neil deGrasse Tyson narrates a new film you might find enlightening. It's called Food Evolution. Please check it out.
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