BeGOAT Certified Non-GMO

MYTH

TRUTH

Genetic engineering is just an extension of natural breeding

Genetic engineering is different from natural breeding and poses special risks

Genetic engineering is precise and the results are predictable

Genetic engineering is crude and imprecise, and the results are unpredictable

Genetic engineering of crops is no more risky than mutation breeding, which is widely accepted and not regulated

Genetic engineering and mutation breeding are both risky and should be strictly regulated

Cisgenesis is a safe form of GM because no foreign genes are involved

Cisgenesis shares many of the risks associated with transgenic genetic engineering

GM foods are strictly tested and regulated for safety

GM foods are safety tested by the developer companies and regulation varies from non-existent to weak

Independent studies confirm that GM foods and crops are safe

Independent research on GM foods is difficult or impossible to carry out, but many studies that have been carried out find problems

The Nicolia review compiles 1,700+ studies showing that GMOs are safe

The review suffers from important omissions, fails to show GMOs are safe and provides evidence of risk for some GMOs

GM foods are safe to eat

Studies show that GM foods can be toxic, allergenic, or have unintended nutritional changes

The Seralini (2012) study was bad science and no conclusions can be drawn from it

The Seralini study is the most detailed and thorough study ever done on a GM food and its associated pesticide

Many long-term studies show GM is safe

Few long-term studies have been carried out, but some show unexpected toxic effects

EU research shows GM foods are safe

EU research shows evidence of harm from GM foods

Those who claim that GM foods are unsafe are being selective with the data, since many other studies show safety

Studies that claim safety for GM crops are more likely to be industry-linked and therefore biased

GM foods are safe for human consumption

The few studies that have been conducted on humans show problems

No one has ever been made ill by a GM food

There is no scientific evidence to support this claim

GM Bt insecticidal crops only harm insects and are harmless to animals and people

GM Bt insecticidal crops pose hazards to people and animals eat them

GM foods are rigorously assessed for their ability to cause allergic reactions

No thorough allergenicity assessment is conducted on GM foods

GM animal feed poses no risk to animal or human health

GM feed affects the health of animals and may affect the humans who eat their products

Genetic engineering will deliver more nutritious crops

No GM crop that is more nutritious than its non-GM counterpart has been commercialized and GM is not needed for good nutrition

Roundup is a safe herbicide with low toxicity to animals and humans

Roundup has never been tested or assessed for long-term safety for regulatory purposes but independent studies show it is highly toxic to animals and humans

Strict regulations ensure we are only exposed to safe levels of Roundup

So-called “safe” levels of Roundup may not be safe after all

GM crops increase yield potential

GM crops do not increase yield potential – and in some cases decrease it

GM crops decrease pesticide use

GM crops increase pesticide use

GM Bt crops reduce insecticides use

GM Bt crops change the way in which insecticides are used

GM Bt crops only affect target pests and their relatives

GM Bt crops are not specific to pests but affect a range of organisms

GM has enabled the adoption of environmentally friendly no-till farming

GM has had little impact on the adoption of no-till farming, and no-till with GM herbicide-tolerant crops is not environmentally friendly

GM crops bring economic benefits to farmers

Economic impacts of GM crops on farmers are mixed and depend on many factor

GM crops increase farmers choice

GM-adopting countries have reduced farmer choice

GM crops can “coexist” with non-GM and organic crops

Co-existence means widespread contamination of non-GMO and organic crops

Horizontal gene transfer from GM crops into bacteria or higher organisms is unlikely or of no consequence

GM genes can escape into the environment by horizontal gene transfer with potentially serious consequences

GM will deliver climate-ready crop

Conventional breeding outstrips GM in delivering climate-ready crops

GM will solve the nitrogen crisis

GM has not delivered nitrogen-efficient crops and better solutions are available

GM crops reduce energy use

GM crops are energy-hungry

GM crops are needed to feed the world’s growing population

GM crops are irrelevant to feeding the world

GM crops are vital to achieve food security

Agroecological farming is the key to food security

Anti-GMO activists in wealthy counties are keeping people in poor countries hungry by denying them GM crops

The 2008 food crisis was not caused by a lack of GM crops but by the rush to biofuels

GM is needed to provide the crops that will enable us to survive the challenges ahead

Non-GM breeding methods are more effective at creating crops with useful traits