I can't point you to any specific studies, but as an environmental chemist I'd be very surprised if fragments of DNA surviving the composting process could actually be incorporated into the cells of living plants in such a way as to alter their genetic material. So even if they survive the composting process, it's just not anything to worry about IMHO - certainly doesn't outweigh the many environmental benefits of composting.

You have been trying to grow things organically...as much as possible....WHY?
The latest info on whether organic food is better than non-organic says there is not sufficient proof it makes any difference....or at least, the difference is so insignificant that the whole issue of growing and buying organic food is a waste of time, effort, resources.......and money. The shopper is not giving to his family any increased benefits....health wise.

As far as growing plants in un-finished compost, there is enough evidence and articles ont his subject that should convince gardeners that the practice of using unfinished is wrong for the plant. If you believe that the 3 elements...N.P. & K, are important to soil, then you have to allow for nitrogen being removed from the soil by such breakdown and thus reducing the availability to the plant you are trying to grow.

Interesting topic and I'll be watching to see if anyone posts good authoritative links or info. I think it's difficult to avoid GM foods completely.

IMO it's early days to know the possible long term repercussions of either GM or totally organic food. In the meantime I'm avoiding GM foods as much as possible and gardening mostly organically altho we certainly don't eat only organically. That might take some of the fun out of it.

Seems to me anything the big chemical companies are in favor of is likely not in my best interests but maybe I'm just a cynical ol' woman who doesn't have many petro stocks! ;-)

Maybe OP, like me, prefers to grow organically out of environmental concerns, rather than dietary health concerns. In any event, there's no harm in it. Why shouldn't a consumer know where his food comes from and what's in it?

I'm always a bit nervous around people who jump to conclusions and criticize. As an educator, I'm also all in favor of of knowledge, learning, and the free flow of information.

As for composting, GMO's just compost down like everything else. You might have pieces of fish DNA or DNA from another plant variety in the compost at the end. But that's what you would get if you composted the fish or the other plant. All comes out the same in the wash, as they say.

Rain2Fall

To put things in perspective, did you know that various soil and intestinal bacteria promiscuously swap DNA chunks between species, and between them and plants and insects?

There are gene transplants and modifications happening in every compost heap and mulch layer in the world, not to mention in your own intestines this very moment.

Most of the Genetically Modified Organisms in our foods are in grain products not the vegetables we eat, yet. It does appear that very few of those that grow wheat are interested in the genetically engineered wheat that has been developed, but Rape (Canola) and field corn (not sweet corn, yet) have been. The chance that you will add a GM product to your compost is fairly slim.

I don't anyone claims that an organically grown tomato has more nutritional value than a tomato that was treated with pesticides, and herbicides.

I'm buying that organic tomato because I know what's NOT in it, because I care about the health of our soil and water and farmers, and because it feels right to me.

The latest info on whether organic food is better than non-organic says there is not sufficient proof it makes any difference....or at least, the difference is so insignificant that the whole issue of growing and buying organic food is a waste of time, effort, resources.......and money. The shopper is not giving to his family any increased benefits....health wise.

This is a misstatement of the results. And only a fool can say there is no increased benefit of having no pesticide on your food. Come now.

As for the topic, my 2¢ is there is little if any risk in transferring GMO genes via compost.

Dan

What a variety of opinions! Everyone's pretty much put in their bit about why they grow organic, but I also want to say "me too" in response to Jeannie7's comment. I don't want to worry about what Miracle Gro will do to my veggies besides making them big, or whether or not I washed enough Roundup off my food. But in addition to that, I also don't want the runoff to end up in fish, paralyze birds, and contribute to more dead zones.

I'm surprised that there's not a lot of concern regarding the decomposition of GMOs, but I guess that's a good thing. If it's true that at the molecular level (or DNA level) transference isn't really an issue, then I can feel more relaxed about it all.

I don't grow organic and I've never thought twice about my food. I use synthetic fertilizer on my garden, but I don't use herbicides or any pesticides. I'm slowly moving towards organic, but I don't know if I'll ever be completely organic. The way I see it, if I get big potatoes, corn, and tomatoes from non-organic fertilizer, why not use it?

The link is a study conducted in Nova Scotia Canada on the topic in question. The conclusion was that a properly managed composting will destroy GMOs in 3-4 months; depending on the process (regular or vermicomposting).

The home composter may be challenged to ensure all of the inputs are properly decomposed. It is largely a volume and management limitation. I would not even think to include GMOs in my home piles; or even on the property. I find it disheartening just knowing it is out there since it will eventually cover the planet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Composting Modified DNA

I just had to go check the ingredients list on some of the items in my fridge.

The margarine, 2 of the salad dressings and a pizza sauce all contained canola oil. I didn't bother checking much else.

All the producers around me grow canola and all of them use a Round-Up Ready seed. So I am pretty confident saying that most products containing canola oil have some GMOs in them.

So if one uses a salad dressing on his/her salad and scrapes some off their plate into their compost bucket, chances are there is some GMO in there.

Now as to the question of composting degrading the GMO, I don't have a clue. I'm going to guess that this type of investigation is still in its infancy so the jury may still be out on that one.

In the meantime, I'm going to keep composting and not sweat it too much at all.

Lloyd

P.S. I didn't understand jeannie7's post at all.

I wouldn't call my self an organic gardner, I don't use pesticides or herbicides other than an ocassional spray of vinegar. I do use some synthetic fertilizer but I'm tapering the use now that I've got a good amount of organic material worked into my garden (3 years of compost).

I'm not against GMO as such but I am nervous about it, as some other poster said its really early yet. Nobody really knows what the long term effects are, it'll be decades before we do. Most people don't really think any farther ahead than yesterday...

We buy some organic products, in particular we drink organic milk. Its much more expensive but it TASTES BETTER which makes it worth the price. Once in awhile we'll even treat ourselves with organic whole milk which is almost like drinking cream (the Organic Cow of Vermont brand) and tastes so good with a piece of cake...

Sheesh now I've made myself hungry.