Political Ecologies of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)

Since the 1990s, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been at the center of debates about the future of food, agriculture, and the environment. In this course we will learn how genetically modified crops and seeds have been burned, have been banned, and have made billions of dollars for global seed companies. We will also discuss the central role of GMOs in struggles over biodiversity, risk, property rights, policy, food labeling, and access to information all over the world. We will use the framework of political ecology framework to study the political, social, economic, and environmental factors related to the spread of GMOs. 3 hrs. lect.