May 19:

DuPont Pioneer is where the day began for us this Monday morning. The tour guide enlightened us on the company’s three main goals, food, energy, and protection, and all that goes into accomplishing these goals. DuPont is a leading seed production company, and it has invested time and money into GMOs or genetically modified organisms. They begin by looking into the plants DNA, specifically the phenotype to locate certain marker genes that carry certain characteristics within the DNA. Once these markers are found they can experiment with modifying different plants to find which will be the best of the best.  In areas like drought resistance, a seed called Aqua-Max for example, has been developed. It is amazing how far they have come in this research given that in 1926, little was known about DNA. With this Aqua-Max line of crops they have balanced the obstacles perfectly, being that the corn survives in drought, but also in perfect conditions where water is plentiful. This is a huge breakthrough because it works so well in both conditions. Usually, it is one or the other. How they get to the final product however, takes years. It begins with the seeds and continues through greenhouses and then into the fields. Numerous tests are done in each location before they take the product to market. The science behind this is baffling at how it all works but some how it does and DuPont has figured it out for both the U.S. and the counties they modify seeds for to export to. They have many facilities around the world ensuring the seeds are adapted to those different environmental factors. There are some people that are against GMOs, but I do not really see the problem with them. If you can get the most out of the crop by making it insect resistant and drought resistant, why wouldn’t you? I get that the argument against them is people want their food all natural, but if the food isn’t harming the health in any way that we can tell, and is making the farmer the most benefit, why not use it? We have to think about the farmer. If they aren’t using these GMOs and drought or bugs are getting to their crops, they are going to lose money. GMOs to me seem like the best option all around for the farmer as well as the consumer.

Instead of focusing our attention on GMOs, I believe we should be putting our efforts into better treatment of animals specifically in the food aspect. Get them eating less corn and more grass. Also, on the food side of things we need to direct our attention to consuming less high fructose corn syrup in attempt to lower the diabetes statistics and over-all better our health as a nation. Corn has taken over in our diet, and as a result we are the most obese generation so far. We eat more fat in food due to the cows eating corn and our sodas accompanying them with the high amounts of corn syrup in them. I do not see why time or effort would be spent on GMOs posing no direct threats when corn is directly harming us and animals.

P.S. Finally made a coke slushy work today, Adam’s 1st attempt did not work, however his second one was successful. He also admitted he could not lift his part of the rock from yesterday, so it was a successful day all in all.