Plant breeding has existed through centuries, including selective and cross-breeding to cultivate plants with desirable traits. Many of the foods we consume today are developed from plant breeding, from our corns to strawberries and more. However, making genetic changes to plants through traditional breeding takes a very long time, with specific traits or changes being extremely difficult to achieve. 

What are GMOs? 

GMO is used to describe foods that were created through genetic engineering. In simple terms, the genetic engineering process involves the following steps:

1. Identifying a desirable trait in an organism’s genetic information
2. Copying the information
3. Inserting the information into the DNA of another organism
4. Growing the new organism

For crops, GMO varieties were developed to make specific, desirable traits to crops in a much shorter time than it would take with traditional plant breeding. This can include the slowing of a crop’s ripening, pest resistance, nutritional enhancement, delayed rotting and more. Many genetically modified organisms contain genes from unrelated species, allowing the crop to have traits that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to develop by traditional breeding. 

The first breakthrough in the GMO study was in 1973 by biochemists Herbert Boyer and Standley Cohen, when they successfully inserted DNA from one bacterium into another. In fact, the first consumer GMO product that was approved by the FDA to be in the market was insulin for diabetic patients!

How does GMO technology work?

The technology that allows for precise genetic modification has been crucial for scientific advancement in the 21st century. It works by loading an enzyme with a segment of RNA (molecules similar to DNA), to which the enzyme uses as a template to find the corresponding segment of DNA in the organism that is being modified. The enzyme will then cut the DNA at that point, and the modification of the gene is done through the repair of the cut. Sections of the gene can be deleted, or new sections can be inserted, giving rise to novel traits. 

Risks of GMO Crops

While GMO crops were created to address common issues related to the fragility of crops and to bolster food security, it is not without risks. 

Genetic modifications can have unintended consequences that are difficult to predict, including those to our health. The Roundup Ready GMO crops made by the Bayer corporation are resistant to glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world (also one of Bayer’s products). It was found that the Roundup Ready crops contained glyphosate residues at a higher concentration than their non-GMO equivalents. While glyphosate has not been proven to be harmful to humans or other animals, it is still not ideal to be consuming chemicals where it can be prevented.

GMO crops can also pose a danger to our environment via a risk called ‘outcrossing’. This happens when the pollen from GMO crops spreads to its wild relatives, passing it’s modified genes into the native habitat, where it then becomes out of the control of scientists. Since GMO crops are modified to be as robust and successful as possible, they are highly likely to outcompete its wild counterparts, leading to a loss of biodiversity.  

Additionally, GMO is a way for huge agricultural corporations to take further control of the market, forcing independent farmers to become reliant on their products. With the example of Bayer’s Roundup Ready crops, they are able to outperform other varieties of the same crops because they do not have to compete with weeds, which are killed by glyphosate. Farmer’s who used Roundup Ready crops would have no choice but to continue using the same seeds. In this way, Bayer has the monopoly on both the premier crops as well as the chemicals that allow the crops to be so successful. 

Do we use GMO seeds?

Here at Sunway XFarms, we do NOT use any GMO seeds or grow any GMO crops. We work with specialist seed suppliers who ensure the highest quality breeds that have been selected for without the use of genetic modification. Through our urban, hydroponic smart farms that are close to people, as well as our short farm-to-fork journey, we avoid the need to have crops resistant to rotting, pesticide use, drought, and more. Trust in us that our team grows with your family’s safety in mind.

The uncertainties surrounding GMOs that have been described above may be elucidated in the future through more thorough research, and when this happens, regulations should follow suit. 

The post GMO Crops: What are They & Should We Worry? appeared first on Sunway XFarms.

We are ecstatic to announce our collaboration with PAUL in the pursuit of better eating habits, leading to better lifestyles overall! PAUL is introducing their all-new Wellness Menu– a line of perfectly balanced salads both in nutrition and taste, featuring Sunway XFarms’ 100% pesticide-free produce. 

Improving nutrition has always been central to our mission here at Sunway XFarms. Vegetables are an indispensable part of our diet; reducing the time between harvest and consumption of these greens ensures that all their nutrients and vitamins have less time to be lost. That is why harvesting and delivering our produce on the very same day is important for us. 

PAUL shares this vision with us, which is why we are proud to have been supplying their restaurants for these past two years. The farm-to-fork freshness that we provide is only possible because we have farms situated in the heart of KL, within a 5km radius distance to PAUL outlets. 

PAUL’s Wellness Menu

From 1 till 31 August, enjoy complimentary, freshly squeezed juice (worth RM19) when you order any of the following salads from PAUL’s new Wellness Menu:

• Mango Prawn Salad
• Roasted Salmon Salad
• Tomato Mozzarella Salad
• Roasted Chicken Country Salad
• Tuna Salad

With this new campaign, we aim to promote healthy eating by enabling people to make these choices as easily as possible. Together we can simultaneously fuel Malaysians with clean, delicious vegetables whilst reducing our carbon footprint with every bite you take!

In addition to nutrition, we also love to share the knowledge of urban and sustainable farming to the public. With that being said, we are delighted to provide PAUL with 10 of our Eco-Friendly Farm Kits for their upcoming giveaways! With these kits you will be able to have a hand at hydroponically growing your very own pak choy– using only the materials included in the kit, a large cup as well as some water. Discover the first-hand magic of growing your own food as you watch it flourish from seed to full maturity. 

Visit any of PAUL’s flagship stores across KL to try out their scrumptious and satisfying Wellness Menu! Take solace in knowing that you are making a choice that is right for both your body and our precious planet. Follow both @paul.malaysia and @sunwayxfarms on Instagram to stand a chance to win a free farm kit!

PAUL Flagship Stores

PAUL Bakery Restaurant @Pavilion KL

PAUL Pavilion, 168, Jln Bukit Bintang, 
Lot 2 . 09 . 02, Kuala Lumpur, 55100

Phone: +60 12-726 2074

PAUL Bakery Restaurant @ Pavilion Damansara

Lot 2.34.00, EP2.34.00 & P2.17.00, Level 2, 
No. 3, Jalan Damanlela, Pavilion Damansara Heights,
Kuala Lumpur, 50490

The post Sunway XFarms x PAUL – Eat Well, Live Better! appeared first on Sunway XFarms.