The Institute for Responsible Technology [IRT] is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. IRT is a world leader in educating the public and change-makers about the health risks and environmental dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms - GMOs and associated pesticides. We empower consumers to lead an organic lifestyle and shape the changing marketplace to reject GMOs from the food supply and environment.
Founded in 2003 by international bestselling author and GMO expert, Jeffrey Smith, IRT has worked in over 45 countries on 6 continents and is credited with improving government policies and influencing consumer buying habits to create the tipping point of consumer demand.
IRTs mission is to protect the genetic integrity and nature’s biological evolution by preventing the outdoor release of genetically modified organisms, and to protect human and animal health by preventing the use of GMOs in the food and feed supply.
In addition, we seek to stop the use of toxic agricultural chemicals associated with GMOs, such as Roundup.
We investigate and report their risks and impact on health, environment, the economy, and agriculture, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting.
GENE EDITING
Gene editing is cheap, easy, prone to side effects, poorly regulated, and can permanently alter nature’s gene pool - a recipe for disaster.
According to the world’s most prestigious journals, gene editing creates damage to the genome. Nature describes it as 'Chromosomal Mayhem'. So how does the biotech industry get away with claiming the opposite?
We are witnessing a well-funded disinformation campaign, reminiscent of the tactics used by Monsanto for decades. They feed scripted talking points and ghostwritten materials to a coordinated chorus of promoters, front groups, paid scientists, captured regulatory agencies, and biotech friendly media. Government sanctioned pro-GMO committees are often comprised of industry-approved members with clear conflicts of interest. On the other hand, highly credentialed, independent experts are not invited to share their evidence of potential harm from gene editing.
A speaker at a 1999 biotech conference revealed that his consulting company was helping Monsanto executives achieve their ideal future, where the company would genetically engineer and patent 100% of all commercial seeds in the world. Another speaker went so far as to predict that 95% natural seeds would be replaced as early as 2004.
Although GMO proponents portrayed their technology as safe, predictable, and even natural, experts and the public saw through the lies. Now half the world’s population appropriately believe that GMO foods are not safe for human health, and there’s plenty of science to back that up.
Concerns about GMO dangers derailed Monsanto’s timeline. The number of commercialized GMO food crops capped at about a dozen. Gene editing threatens all that.
WHAT IS GMO 2.0
It can replace nature. Full stop.
We’ve entered the genetic Wild West where anyone can redirect the streams of evolution. With gene editing techniques such as CRISPR, genetic engineering is cheap and accessible, prone to side effects, without meaningful regulation, and able to create self-propagating GMOs. This is a recipe for disaster.
Anything with DNA is up for grabs. Nature could be permanently corrupted by countless GMOs and our food supply – INCLUDING ORGANIC – could be overrun.
Education ~ Responsibility ~ Action!