8 Proofs We Don’t Need GMOs to Feed the World
Key research shows we don't need GMOs to feed the world
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Do we really need Monsanto’s GMOs to feed the world? Looking at the research and the studies, the answer is quite clear. Let’s take a look at the 8 proofs that we most certainly do not need GMOs to feed the world:
1. One Organic Rooftop Farm Can Feed 9000 People
One organic rooftop farm can feed 9000 people. They don’t use pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides, and they provide fresh produce to their community year-round (1). This is a big slap in the face to the biotech companies who lie, saying that GMO is needed to feed the world. This is only one urban farm bucking the system.
“Several of the high profile advocates for conventional agricultural production have stated that the world would starve if we all converted to organic agriculture. They have written articles for science journals and other publications saying that organic agriculture is not sustainable and produces yields that are significantly lower than conventional agriculture.” ~ Avery (2000) Trewavas (2001)
Are these claims really true?
2. Small Organic Farms Are Working, Even In Major Cities
Lufa Farms has an astonishing approach to feeding the world. Their newest rooftop hothouse in the suburb of Laval near Montreal, produces enough veggies for more than 9,000 people. According to Lufa’s founder Mohamed Hage, this is only the beginning. From rhubarb to kale, and organic milk, cheese, and tofu, Lufa is feeding its community without following Big Ag practices. The company plans to expand to Chicago soon.
3. Airports Serving… Sustainable Foods?
Or take La Guardia airport – yes, you read that right. An airport is also sticking it to Monsanto, Bayer and Syngenta by serving organic, local, and sustainable food at their upscale eateries scattered through different terminals.
Read: Russians Prove Small-Scale Organic CAN Feed the World
Agribusiness advocates such as Steve Kopperud need a reality check. They think you can’t feed the world on organic, sustainable, non-GMO food, but they are dead wrong.
4. The UN Admits We Don’t Need GMOs
Even the UN once admitted that, “organic and other sustainable farming methods that come under the umbrella of what the study’s authors called ‘agroecology’ would be necessary to feed the future world.” You can read the pdf here.
5. Sustainable Agriculture = Increased Crop Yields
Further, an editorial in New Scientist stated that low-tech sustainable agriculture is increasing crop yields on poor farms across the world, often by 70 percent or more. This is achieved by replacing synthetic chemicals with natural fertilizers and natural pest control methods, while the Union of Concerned Scientists has pointed out that GE crops are failing to yield:
“. . .GE soybeans have not increased yields, and GE corn has increased yield only marginally on a crop-wide basis. Overall, corn and soybean yields have risen substantially over the last 15 years, but largely not as result of the GE traits. Most of the gains are due to traditional breeding or improvement of other agricultural practices.”
Conversely, vertical organic farming is going high tech and big-scale. Utilizing the space equal to a small one-bedroom apartment, healthy food can be grown for a small family.
“Using a combination of new growing techniques and more sustainable energy practices, food markets around the world could soon benefit from the adoption of plant factories taking up a lot less space than traditional agriculture but boasting significantly more production.”
6. Aquaponics
Also look at places like Urban Organics in Minnesota. They use aquaponics to grow food sustainably. The company was established in an old brewery, which was vacant for almost two decades. They now grow a variety of herbs and healthy vegetables.
7. States Taking Action
Maine is also growing loads of organic food. The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardener’s Association suggests this economical solution:
“Consider the fact that half a pound of pole bean seeds, which you can buy for between $4 and $15 depending on the catalog and variety of bean, will plant a 100-foot row that can yield 150 pounds of beans The price of fresh, organic green beans at Maine farmers’ markets is about $3 per pound, so even if you paid $15 for your seed, that 150 pounds would have grossed $435 for you!”
8. Home Gardening: Grow Your Own Food!
Even home gardeners are increasing their organic food yields with tried and true techniques that have been around for ages. Just planting according to your growing region can help you yield a cornucopia of fresh, healthful food. For a list of the best regional varieties, look here.
Biotechnology companies like Monsanto rely heavily on claims that GMOs will solve world hunger. Their marketing strategy says it all: “Produce more. Conserve more. Improve lives,” but we can produce more, and of a much higher quality without resorting to biotech tricks.
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| Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga. |
“One organic rooftop farm can feed 9000 people” — What!? Over 9000?
The minimum amount of agricultural land necessary for sustainable food security, with a diversified diet similar to those of North America and Western Europe (hence including meat), is 0.5 of a hectare per person. [FAO, 1993]
Oki now let’s say we take a quarter of an hectare (0.25) because we are vegetarian and very optimistic. This is my calculation:
sqrt(9000 people * 10000m2 * 0.25)
4743m
You will need a rooftop of about 5 kilometers/3 miles on each side… Does such a huge building exist on earth? If you want people to trust you article maybe don’t start with such ridiculous statement?
Thanks! I have a garden in my neighboorhood on a complex with 130 other members having a garden to grow their own veggies and fruit. I made last year nice pictures of my harvest in that week to promote it on the new coming website. I do it organic and it was my second year and I had a great harvest very nice tomatoes and gourgettes and other veggies on the table. One of the members of that complex told me I had to remove the harvest picture because he did not believe it was my own harvest! It was looking to good to be true. Big compliment for me, because it was really my own harvest. Just showing I am on the good way to grow my own veggies!! Proof that organic is great and working for me better as GMO. I use only organic material to put back in the soil and my own compost. I use my own seeds and also if I need to buy heirloom seeds.
Great counter-arguments for those stating GMOs are ‘superior’.
Yes!!! I knew this was true and now here’s the proof. Thank you for publishing the story.