What is on your organics? ...Bt for one

The term "GMO" has become tough to define.  For many it is an evil word, while "organics" are what is going to save the day.   I have nothing against organics, but while GMOs have a mixed reactions organics are the golden child that can do no wrong.  Organics have there niche and I am certainly not above buying them.   My biggest problem with organics is that they are very labor intensive and I do not see them as a sustainable option in the long term future as our population continues to expand drastically.   An even more common problem is the lack of information.    I do not think the general population fully understands that organics still receive some chemical treatment.  Just because something is organic does not mean it it was just grown in a field and nothing but pure water and sun ever touched the plants.

Let's take a look at one of the most common GMO products for insect control.   "Bt" corn and soy are widely adopted by farmers and do a great job controlling certain insects.  "Bt" stands for Bacillus thuringiensis.  Yhese bacteria make a natural protein that kills insects.  This is a similar concept to antibiotics.  Bacteria are always competing against each other and nature and thankfully make these compounds to keep them competitive against other organisms  competing in the same spaces.   The gene that produces this protein has been inserted into plants and when insects digest the protein they die.  But guess what?  Bt has been sprayed on plants for years and is allowed on organics because it is a natural protein found in nature.   In fact it accounts for up to 90% or of the organic pest control market (http://www.bt.ucsd.edu/organic_farming.html).   So GMOs are terrible because they have Bt, but Bt spray is fine.  Say what!!??

Here is my augment summed up nicely from http://grist.org/food/slate-anti-gmo-activists-say-the-darnedest-things/

There are also many other things that may be used on organics that you may not be aware of.   Here is the list of things that are allowed by federal regulations in the US:

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?c=ecfr&SID=9874504b6f1025eb0e6b67cadf9d3b40&rgn=div6&view=text&node=7:3.1.1.9.32.7&idno=7


Check out this article on the same subject.  It is very informative.

https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2015/12/07/myth-busting-on-pesticides-despite-demonization-organic-farmers-widely-use-them/

The point here is that insects are a problem and in order for you to have food to eat insects have to be controlled whether you are eating GMOs or organics.  I feel that organics have this reputation that they have absolutely nothing on them.  I understand the appeal of organics and there is some great tasting and quality food coming from organic farms. However, they still still use options to control insects. including Bt that has been an argument for anti-GMO activists for years.  The good news is Bt is safe whether in your GMO or organic food.