Hybridization and GMO are not the same thing. When it comes to GMO vs hybrid, one is natural, one is definitely not…

I felt compelled to write this post after hearing someone at a local farm market saying that hybridization and GMO were the same thing. They’re not. One is a safe, natural method of creating a new variety of plant. The other is a reckless science experiment which makes us consumers into lab rats. So GMO vs hybrid, which is which?

Hybridization Can Be Done At Home; GMO’s Are Made In A Lab

Hybridization is the natural way to create a new plant variety by cross-pollinating two varieties of plant to create a new type. This is perfectly natural and happens on its own in nature all the time. (To see it in action, try planting pumpkins and gourds in the same row some year. You’ll end up with your own unique varieties of bumpy pumpkins and very large gourds).

GMO (or genetic modification) on the other hand is a dangerous practice taking place on the cellular level whereby the cells of a plant are actually broken down by injecting them with a virus to destroy their defenses. At that point, the scientists can inject cells from a completely different species to give the plant some new desired trait. Sometimes the cells being injected are not even from another plant, but are instead from an animal or insect, thus creating a new breed of plant that contains both animal and plant genetics.

Such a process never occurs in nature and was never meant to. The dangers of this are overwhelming because of food allergies alone. The problem with crossing the genes of different species is that if someone were to put say a peanut gene in a type of fruit, anyone allergic to peanuts would be affected, sometimes fatally. And because many states do not require GMO foods to be labeled, the consumer has no way of knowing the fruit they’re about to eat might contain peanut genes that could kill them.

GMO’s Are Irreversible

Perhaps the scariest part of all is that genetically engineered changes are permanent. Once something has been altered at the genetic level, it cannot be undone. Those genetically engineered plants can go out and cross with other non-GMO plants and the new genes will be present in the offspring, along with any unforeseen problems that might occur down the road.

All two often the terms “hybridized” and “GMO” are casually interchanged creating confusion as to which is natural and which is not. Unfortunately that is probably exactly what Monsanto (the company responsible for the majority of GMO’s) wants. If people don’t know the difference between GMO vs hybrid, it just makes Monsanto’s job of confusing the consumer easier.

Labels Aren’t Required

Monsanto has spent millions of dollars to block efforts to have GMO foods labeled. They don’t want the consumers to know what they’re eating. Why? Because they know given the choice, many people will choose not to eat GMO foods. And because they don’t want to be held responsible when someone reacts adversely to eating genetically modified foods.

What can you do to help? Don’t buy GMO foods. If there’s no market for them, they can’t keep making them. Look for foods that are specifically labeled as non-GMO or heirlooms. Frequenting your local farm markets is a great way to accomplish, as you can ask the farmers directly whether their produce is non-GMO. (And many non-GMO farmers proudly display that on their signs). You can be GMO-free by purchasing organic food as well, as currently the law requires organic foods to be free of GMO’s.

If you know someone having trouble distinguishing between GMO vs hybrid foods, please share this with them.

Written by Amber Reifsteck, The Woodland Elf

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