From monikers like "Frankenfoods" to general skepticism, there has been a variety of biased reactions to these organisms, even though we as a species have been genetically modifying our foods in one way or another for approximately 10,000 years.
Perhaps some of this distrust will be put to rest with the emergence of a 2018 meta-analysis that shows GM corn increases crop yields and provides significant health benefits.
The analysis, which was not limited to studies conducted in the US and Canada, showed that GMO corn varieties have increased crop yields worldwide 5.6 to 24.5 percent when compared to non-GMO varieties.
They also found that GM corn crops had significantly fewer (up to 36.5 percent less, depending on the species) mycotoxins - toxic chemical byproducts of crop colonization.
Some have argued that GMOs in the US and Canada haven't increased crop yields and could threaten human health; this sweeping analysis proved just the opposite.
For this study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, a group of Italian researchers took over 6,000 peer-reviewed studies from the past 21 years and performed what is known as a "meta-analysis", a cumulative analysis that draws from hundreds or thousands of credible studies.
This type of study allows researchers to draw conclusions that are more expansive and more robust than what could be taken from a single study.
There have been, for a variety of largely unscientific reasons, serious concerns surrounding the effects of GMOs on human health.
This analysis confirms that not only do GMOs pose no risk to human health, but also that they actually could have a substantive positive impact on it.
Mycotoxins, chemicals produced by fungi, are both toxic and carcinogenic to humans and animals. A significant percentage of non-GM and organic corn contain small amounts of mycotoxins. These chemicals are often removed by cleaning in developing countries, but the risk still exists.
GM corn has substantially fewer mycotoxins because the plants are modified to experience less crop damage from insects. Insects weaken a plant's immune system and make it more susceptible to developing the fungi that produce mycotoxins.
In their analysis, the researchers stated that this study allows us "to draw unequivocal conclusions, helping to increase public confidence in food produced with genetically modified plants".
While there will likely still be questions raised as GMOs are incorporated into agriculture, this analysis puts some severe concerns to rest.
Additionally, this information might convince farmers and companies to consider the potential health and financial benefits of using genetically modified corn.
Some are already calling this meta-analysis the "final chapter" in the GMO debate.
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