r/europeanunion • u/sn0r • May 03 '25

Podcast Should the EU ease regulation on new generation GMOs?

https://shows.acast.com/6486cf282b317a001151a613/6810765153ed555148698f3f
11 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

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15

u/DysphoriaGML May 03 '25 edited May 03 '25

Yes, I would rather have a controlled and certified GMO than 20 different pesticides on my food

Edit: English

1

u/Domi4 May 03 '25

Don't put it that way and relativizing GMO.

3

u/N1A117 May 03 '25

No easing without research it’s not a political issue it’s a public health one.

5

u/DysphoriaGML May 03 '25

We already eat GMO, we as a species have been doing them since forever. GMO were never proven to be unhealthy or unsafe for the public health and they were banned out of populism

1

u/MrKiwimoose May 05 '25

There's no reason not to do safety studies before admitting new substances into our food network. this should be a general rule and it's crazy it isnt (see bpa, pesticides etc) I'm not really worried about gmo but I also dont see why they should be an exception.

And yes in a way we've been doing gmo since forever doesnt mean we didnt crossbreed some unwanted genetic factors into our food already. Modern tech is way more precise and better at only modifying the sections we want but afaik still not perfect and we still dont know every interaction changing a certain section of DNA can have.

1

u/DreadingAnt May 08 '25

before admitting new substances into our food network

What "substances" is this?

Pesticides or bpa are synthetically introduced by humans, DNA is just DNA, it's everywhere. You breathe and someone's DNA is in your lungs now. The highest risk from its manipulation it can have is to the biosphere, not human health.

didnt crossbreed some unwanted genetic factors into our food already.

That's exactly why direct genetic editing is preferred to random crossbreeding that we've been doing for thousands of years.

but afaik still not perfect and we still dont know every interaction changing a certain section of DNA can have.

You underestimate the ease of doing this. The limitations of current genetic editing technology can be imprecise or unknown edits, which can be unpredictable. However, what they can also be is completely detectable. The whole genome can be sequenced as many times as you want to confirm that only your intended edit was made. Plants can be made sterile for trial purposes too for example.

The fear of GMOs is preventing all this research, that's the issue that needs to be addressed. It's another case of EU's over regulation preventing innovation.

1

u/MrKiwimoose May 08 '25

I actually feel like we are mostly arguing the same just drawing slightly different conclusions...

Do you disagree with doing safety studies for new substances entering our food network?

A safety study wouldnt really hamper innovation just ensure only what is safe enters the market for consumption. I would also agree it is extremely highly likely most gmo foods are a net positive and offer no harm. ESPECIALLY considering potentially reduced pesticide use (this is the biggest health issue with current food production imo).

So while I agree with gmo being much much safer than many of the things we are already consuming(gown with pesticides), I still think everything without exceptions should be submitted to rigorous safety testing. I wish we had had more restrictive regulations for pesticides a long time ago and thus I would feel like a hypocrite if I wasnt for including ALL consumption related substances in such rigorous testing.

Maybe there could be a temporary exemption to have certain gmos preemptively enter the market before safety studies are finished if it means reducing pesticide usage/consumption faster.

BIO/Organic labels are complete failures and should be replaced with scaling labels for pesticide use, CO2 production, water use, maybe amount of imported fertilizer eventually a soil health indicator for how well soil health is maintained and yeah a gmo indicator although it is the least important imo.

1

u/DreadingAnt May 08 '25

Do you disagree with doing safety studies for new substances entering our food network?

You should always involve science in everything yes.

BIO/Organic labels are complete failures

Real, what a total scam this shit is. And people buy into it with good intentions.

I actually feel like we are mostly arguing the same just drawing slightly different conclusions...

Understandable have a nice day lmao

1

u/DreadingAnt May 08 '25

It's not a public health issue but an education one. Fears of GMOs are completely unfounded in science.