organic crops had higher antioxidants, lower cadmium concentrations and lower incidence of pesticide residue.

@ Mahammed, whenever a food is produced through organic or bio-engineered (GMO) or conventional agriculture, they are equally nutritious and healthful. But depends on quality of food , organic food generally have more beneficial nutrients,and flavonoids which have antioxidant properties. The advantage of organic food is , it do not contain any pesticides, fertilizers, solvents or additives where as GM foods does not mean it must grown organically, they could grown with conventional non-organic approaches. So, it is always better to give more preference to organic food which is also helps to maintain soil health..

Organic food

Sajda Taha Mahmood ,

Great points! Thank you for sharing your insight.

Nirmala S.V.S.G , Alaa Saad Alattabi ,

Thank you for your reply. Indeed organic foods are devoid of pesticides and fertilizers.

regarding the nutritional value, difference between both types of food is minor since GMO foods are created in a way to provide higher nutritionally improved traits to consumers. Organic food is more preferred than GMO foods because it is free of chemical residues, however both types can have disadvantages: it is possible that GMO foods may cause allergic reaction as new food to human body, 'also consumption of organic food has been attributed in few cases with bacterial infection mainly in the digestive system, such as E-coli.

Zeina el Sebaaly ,

That's an interesting finding. I appreciated your contribution to the discussion.

Definitely organic foods are much better for health and wellness. The problem is it's hard to grow real organic foods this days because of cross polination. Farmers might use natural fertilizer but flowers from other plant can pollinate to the other and pass the genes.

Organic food

you are welcome

Organic foods are more nutritionally beneficial and safer than other foods and have greater health benefits.

Ali Alhayany

Thank you for sharing your insight.

I agree with Lubaba yemer

There is no difference nutritionally. Every plant is genetically modified/selected by humans for characteristics that are not nutitionally based. Once an individual is taken and grown away from the entire gene pool, genetic diversity is lost. At that point nutrition is selected for or against. This is a deeper subject than can be fully explored here. Organic food will not feed the world. If people want to waste money on it then they can be idealistic and feel good as others starve.

Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives often find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods.

Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak

Great point. I do share your thought that organic is better but some time the nutrient may be the same in both. What do you think Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak ? Normally organic do not have chemical and pesticides.

Hassan Izzeddin Sarsak

Thank you for sharing your insight!

Wendell Rich

I appreciated you for your participation in this important discussion. I agree that organic foods alone will not feed the world. I am originally from rural part of Ethiopia and I know how much annual crop production increased when the country first introduced fertilizer. The issue is those farm land will be dependent on fertilizer and will not produce enough with out fertilizer once you start using it.

Organic: grown from organic material.or (natural). * GMO: uses a variety of tools, using genetic engineering to make changes to improve plants or animals or to develop.But is ok if allowed the procedure.

Rahmad Setia Budi

thanks for your reply.

It might shock some, but the "nutritionally equivalence" preached by some is a scam. Not only micro-nutrients are more abundant in organically grown plants, but there are much less phyto-protection residues (the infamous pesticides), which are very prominent in GMO-grown foods... the latest on Glyphosate just unveiled how EPA has been protecting the Agro-Chemical firms by setting acceptable levels at 3-4 times those found in Europe for the same substances... all of this because it would disqualify GMO-plants from being safe should the EU limits be applied in the USA.

Even more importantly, GMO-foods are an environmental disaster, which no one talks about, from a soil destruction standpoint. The soil is the living part of the earth's crust, and the lesser living things or the more imbalance is brought to that ecosystem, the faster the soil is lost. We now see this everywhere.

Lastly, the "feeding the world" motive given to growing GMO-foods is another scam. Not only we still have over 1 billion people going to bed hungry everyday, but properly managed soils can be as productive as other "conventional" techniques and more sustainable and profitable. I can can testify to this every day. No-one loses with organic, except those who try to suppress it by some greedy motive.

Herve Bonin

I have seen real effect of GMO and pesticides effect on soil. One time there was an international farm growing flower. Once they left after few years the soil was considered as dangerous for anything.

Herve Bonin Lubaba Yemer

Thank you for sharing such an informative insight on GMO and organic foods.

Actually, there is no independently produced evidence that organic foods offer any nutritional or safety advantages over GMO foods.They are equally nutritious and healthful. Many myths persist around the risks of GMOs and the benefits of organic foods. But one thing should be cleared that eating fruits and vegetables is the most important thing, no matter if they’re organic or GMO. So, consumers should make their food choices based on science, not hearsay.

Generally there is more trust on organic food about safety and nutritious value than GMO food.The fact maybe different however some people stick to the traditional thought and highly recommend organic food.

GMO mainly focused on the quantity than the quality of the food.

I think the question is ambiguous:

"organic food" means the production/process line of the food was under control, no environmentally harmful pesticides used or so. In other words, it does not say anything about the food itself.

"GMO food" on the other hand means the genome of the food itself has been modified and the risk is: it is not certain what could be the outcomes of that modification after consumed by a human being or a livestock.

Lastly, I suggest to compare a food produced organically or conventionally. My understanding is "no difference" in the food itself. The difference is about sustainability of the farming and the environment. Organic production cycles are claimed as "more sustainable". My opinion "sustainable production" is a long way and we are at the very beginning of it, so it is hard to guess if we are really on the right track or not. However, we have to find sustainable ways to survive.

Hi Ebru Mutluer

Thank you for sharing your insight on the research topic.

Gene modification scientists are focusing increasingly on building health benefits into widely used foods. In addition to pink pineapples containing the tomato-based antioxidant lycopene, tomatoes are being engineered to contain the antioxidant-rich purple pigment from blueberries. Consumers concerned about the growing use of G.M.O.s in the foods they depend on might consider taking a more nuanced approach than blanket opposition. Rather than wholesale rejection, take some time to learn about how genetic engineering works and the benefits it can offer now and in the future as climate change takes an ever greater toll on food supplies. Consider supporting efforts that result in safe products that represent improvements over the original and focusing opposition on those that are less desirable. Here is the full content in New York times: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/eat/are-gmo-foods-safe.html

What are your thoughts: Ebru Mutluer Lubaba Yemer Muhammad Zubair Muhammad Zubair Solanki Bal Yousef Wardat Lilianna Wojtynek Joseph Warero Hailai Abera Weldeslassie Herve Bonin Rahmad Setia Budi Herve Bonin Radu Catalin Tarca Radu Catalin Tarca Ahmed Y. Yassin Ammar A. Oglat Bisma S Khan Gurmeet Singh Guilherme Frederico Kidanemariam Gebregziabher Rhytheema Dulloo Radu Catalin Tarca Malibongwe Cyprian Nyati Muhammad Zubair Malibongwe Cyprian Nyati Muhammad Zubair Farhan Zafar Farhan Zafar ??

Hi Mohammed,

I wish you had cited the second last paragraph of the article, including Environmental Protection Agency's decision to link 2,4-D to an increase in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

GMO food and feed deserve lots of research and discussions, I think.

Dear Ebru Mutluer ,

I agree with you that GMO foods require the attention of the researcher as it relies mainly on producing food that the majority of the world population eat. In the U.S. only up to 92% of corn is genetically engineered, as are 94% off... have revealed that genetically engineered foods can pose severe risks to the farmers. Despite these long-term and wide-ranging risks, the U.S. Congress has yet to pass a single law intended to manage them responsibly. We humans are what we eat. If we eat healthy food, we become healthy.

Any additional thought Ebru Mutluer Lubaba Yemer Muhammad Zubair Solanki Bal Alaa Garad Herve Bonin Gautam Pal Jurgens Johannes Cornelius Herve Bonin ?

Interesting discussion.

Pienso que los alimentos naturales son bueno y tienen las propiedades para nutrir, acá en mi país, hay una gran diversidad de plantas, somos ricos en especies y en variados ecosistemas que pueden producir suficiente alimentos naturales para la población, y no habría necesidad de estar generando procesos de OGM, para alimentar la población, en Países que no tengan condiciones de producir sus alimentos para satisfacer sus necesidades alimentarias y deban acudir a los alimentos OMG, es una buena alternativa para la solución de su seguridad alimentaria

Querido Manuel Torres Torres gracias por compartir tus ideas. Grandes puntos. La gente de tu país debe estar sana. Estoy de acuerdo en que comer alimentos orgánicos es mucho mejor que los GMO con respecto a la salud para las personas y también para los agricultores.

Logically, we should always stick to organic food, unless there is a dire need to shift to something else.

I think it would be better to compare "organic foods" with "conventional foods", "conventional foods" with "GMO foods" and finally "organic foods" with "GMO foods".

I think that organic foods are better because in organic farming it's forbidded to use cytotropic insecticides, so you don't find any type of chemical residue inside foods (fruits and vegetables).

Dear Michele Librandi appreciated for pointing out those comparisons and thank you for your response.

According to research organic food contains more nutrients. Furthermore, in my opinion organic food is connected to a community and most of time organic plants are grown as part of ecosystem. Organic farmers pay more attention to soil, landscape and local culture than farmers who choose GM production. The latter are not free to reuse their seeds and rely on multinationals which own the licence. In India, many farmers overwhelmed by debts killed themselves because not able to pay Monsanto which imposed them to grown a particular GM plant.

It is a matter of ethic. Organic agriculture allows farmers to grow plants selected in their area, which are the result of years of selection. GM plants are produced mainly to increase multinational profit. Multinationals push countries to increase GM plant production because they say it is a way to feed the world. The real problem instead is linked to an equal distribution of wealth and the expolation of resources in poor countries which are forced to produce food for the rich world and are not able to emancipate themselves because slave of profit of few.

Yes from Food safety it is very appropriate to take genetically geared organic food. But whether this type of food can be afforded by all the common people .

( cheaper or not ) ?

Dear Jaydip Datta , great points. Organic foods are much expensive and not even quite available in every store. One thing you strike my mind is, do we really have pure organic food at this time? The reason being cross pollination that we cannot avoid it. Any thoughts Jaydip Datta Francesco giuseppe Pistillo Michele Librandi Farhan Zafar Manuel Torres Torres Bisma S Khan Siddappa Naragatti Vinoth Kumar Paramasivam Ammar A. Oglat Priyakrushna Mohanty Muqing Xu Dr R Senthilkumar Ahmad Saad Ahmad Al-Dafrawi V. Ashok Srini Vasan Ebru Mutluer Jurgens Johannes Cornelius Elahe Bani Ali Ali Mekki ??? Thank you!!!

Organic food is better for health..

Dear Qasim M. Shakir I cannot disagree with your statement. Thank you for your participation.

I also believe that we cannot have 100% organic food because of soil pollution and contamination. But I also believe that it is possible to achieve a proper price for organic food through a bottom up apporoach. Many examples of farmer markets and buying groups show that it is possible to develop a local economy though organic food. At the moment organic food seems not available for everybody only because the problem depends on its distribution. Indeed distribution still mainly relies on big store chains which although can cut some cost because of quantity bought and so can offer a competitive price for their products people still perceive these items as expensive, compared to conventional ones. I we could develop and covey both a quality and organic culture through a connection between farmers and coproducers, we could achieve an important goal: show that it is possible to create a different market based on trust between farmers and people. We could support local economy and help small farmers to develop their business which includes not only on profit but also enhancing of land, territory, landscape, and culture. I think it is nessesary to look the issue from a different approach.

Dear Francesco giuseppe Pistillo thank you for adding your comment in this important discussion point.

Dear Qasim M. Shakir I agree with you, thank you for sharing your input.

It is worth mentioning that the real organic food is not currently available .. because of the use of chemical fertilizers and various nutrients in agriculture

Dear Qasim M. Shakir thank you again for your contribution. I respect your comment. But there are counter statements. Would there be any literature supporting your statement? I personally trying to find one and will share to the team as I get it. Any additional thoughts Qasim M. Shakir Francesco giuseppe Pistillo Ammar A. Oglat Elma Satrovic Yusenzhou Zhou Ahmed Y. Yassin Jaydip Datta V. Ashok Ahmad Saad Ahmad Al-Dafrawi Radu Catalin Tarca Salman Keyani Borujeni Bisma S Khan Priyakrushna Mohanty ? Thanks!!

GMOs are the products to cater the increasing human population of the world and so, they are obviously not natural rather exploited set of genes to serve the market. To an extent that, some GMOs are known to be harmful for human consumption.On the other hand, organic foods are rich with naturally produced nutrients and minerals. To conclude, from the nutrition and safety perspective, organic foods outreach GMOs big time. For more information, requesting you to go through the works of Vandana Shiva.

Cheers!

PK

Dear Priyakrushna Mohanty thank you again for sharing your comment!

We know that food quality significantly affects our body. Organic food is often promoted as being nutritionally superior to GMO. However, developing countries, lack both organic food as well as good quality GMOs.

"In developing countries, environmental factors such as poor sanitation and water quality hinder nutrient absorption. Low-income populations in developing countries are disproportionally vulnerable to what is affordable, accessible and aspirational, and are increasingly incorporating available “unhealthy foods” (high in fat, sugar, salt, and calories with little nutritional value) into their diets. These unhealthy foods lead to a burden of health and financial impacts, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, loss of productivity and absenteeism for these low-income individuals, their families and the broader societies in which they live."

https://assets.rockefellerfoundation.org/app/uploads/20130501214213/Unhealthy-Developing-World-Food-Markets.pdf

Both type of food has it's own immense importance depends upon the availability and socio-economic status of the people of that particular region/country. Generally we assume that organic food has less pesticide and other inorganic chemicals but on the other side GMO food has it's own importance according to the crop and purpose.

Regards,

Thank you Hira Singh , Bisma S Khan Priyakrushna Mohanty Qasim M. Shakir Francesco giuseppe Pistillo all.

Following all the great responses.

Regards.

Organic foods look safe but is it enough to feed the world population? I don't think so. Meanwhile, GMO foods can produce more but it looks dangerous (even on the long run) because we don't know how it will affect our metabolism on the long run. Someone will claim that we just changed the order of some genes in the same organism and we did not add or introduce any gene to that organism. for this person I am asking, do you know what the new protein produce by that gene will do with your body?. So I think conservative agriculture is the safest system. Use chemical fertilizers but don't overdose. Use IPM strategies and don't over use pesticides.

Tons of food is wasted every year and there is no planning , will , or compassion to cater the needs of poor dying because of shortage of food in different parts of the world.

It is not clear. The assesing of the changes or effects induced by GMO on consumers is hard because of ethicaly issues - experiences on humans are forbiden - and because the mutations or effects that can occuer take to much time to be completed - is a matter of generations. From my point of view there is to dangerous to find after 300 years that consuming some GMO food the consumers are severely affected. So in conclusion when will have a phesable procedures for GMO foods effects on consumers the question have no answer.

Dear Muhammad Zubair thank you for sharing the need for food planning. I do agree with you that there are a lot more waste than the usage.

Regards,

Mohammed.

Dear Timar Adrian you mentioned a very critical point, assessing the change because of GMO foods. Thank you for your participation in this important discussion.

Regards.

Great discussion with great intellectuals.

In my view organic food is more useful for mind body efficiency

I recommend safety and security criteria to decide. Food safety implies it is safe for human consumption, and food security implies there is sufficient quantity. Organic and GMO can play complementary and substitutive roles. You decide where both positives (++) meet!