Compared to traditional foods, GMOs tend to be:

• More nutritious

• Resistant to pest and weather damage

• Less susceptible to spoilage

• Need less pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals

Most corn, soybeans, and cotton grown in the US are GMOs; also common in Brazil and Argentina

Advantages of GMOs

GMOs and Biotechnology

Many countries restrict GMOs, especially in Europe, due to concerns:

• GMO seeds are too expensive for farmers to use and often need to be purchased new each year

• Resistance to pests and herbicided could contribute to superpests or superweeds

• Might have potential long-term risks to consumers that haven't been identified and studied yet - organ issues, reduced immunity to disease, etc.

Disadvantages of GMOs

GMOs and Biotechnology

Aquaculture

Advantages of Aquaculture

Limits overfishing and the depletion of wild fish in oceans and lakes

Aquaculture

Disadvantages of Aquaculture

• Parasites and diseases spread easily in enclosures, and pass easily to wild fish

• Chemicals and antibiotics used in enclosures can damage the surrounding ecosystem

• Fish can escape pens and breed or compete with native stock

• Excess feed and concentrated waste can dangerously affect the condition of the water

• Fish farms can disrupt traditional fishing industries and ways of life

• Fish farms may exploit local labor and environments

• High levels of pesticides could hurt humans