As I’ve begun this drastic lifestyle change, excessive researching and self-doubt have creeped in. Some choices have been simple, such as purchasing a compost bin (hello two-hour assembly process) but others have proven difficult. Especially where food and the agricultural industry is concerned.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been under a microscope for quite some time now. The controversy lies in one side proclaiming that the potential health effects aren’t understood yet, the other arguing for the world population and how GMOs are needed in order to feed this vast population.

“I’m amazed how much rejection genetically modified foods are receiving,” said science communicator and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. He described the situation as one where people are frightened by a new technology and reject it due to unfamiliarity or lack of understanding.

Practically every ounce of food a grocery store has been genetically altered Tyson said. The practice of modification, he said, is one that has been used ever since people began cultivating.

GMOs can be boiled down to artificial selection. And the attitude towards it shouldn’t change just because it’s happening in a lab.

What’s disconcerting is the use of herbicide and pesticide has skyrocketed. According to an article from Forbes magazine, the implementation of GMO’s has resulted in a dramatic increase of herbicide over the past nine years. One type of pesticide, glyphosate or Roundup has gone from 15 million pounds of use in 1996 to 159 million in 2012.

If it rains shortly after herbicide or pesticide is applied, these harsh chemicals find their way into the water system.

NPR did a story on “All Things Considered” about this issue and how the agricultural industry is one of America’s best success stories, but also it’s America’s greatest water pollutant. It affects everything from ecosystems to the water quality of peripheral cities.

After reading the NPR article, I didn’t want to consider purchasing something like a seedless watermelon or strawberries the size of my fist. However, GMO’s provide benefits in other areas of the world we may be aware of.

GMOs have proven to be beneficial to low-income countries. The humanitarian project and food, Golden Rice, claims that this modified food is alleviating the vitamin-A deficiency prevalent within underdeveloped countries.

With a world population of 7.5 billion and a comparatively small area of arable earth, innovations must be used. Unfamiliarity cannot be an excuse to say no to GMO production as a solution.

This doesn’t mean the industry can’t innovate in a way that would reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides wastefully destroying the environment.

I’ve found that a journey of 1,000 zero-waste miles begins with accepting that much of what is offered in our grocery stores are in an ethical gray area. While I will continue to seek out locally-grown food, I’m not going to ban GMO food from my shopping cart. (Even if I decided to do so, I don’t believe I would have much luck. Non-GMO food is relatively scarce).
Keep calm and green on my friends.