Giving Compass' Take:

• Developing nations are grappling with their future relationship with GMOs. While several countries have increased food yields and farmer's incomes, environmental and health risks quell excitement for GMOs. 

• How can countries best balance their needs when it comes to GMO and alternative farming methods? Can philanthropy support unbiased research to help this process? 

• Learn about the opposition to GMOs.

In developing nations across the globe, governments are grappling with questions of what role, if any, genetically modified organisms should play in helping address a range of agriculture, nutrition, and climate challenges.

Concerns have been raised over the environmental and health impacts of GMOs, as well as their impact on traditional farming methods and issues around seed patents, and farmers having to be dependent on corporations.

Within the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines is considered a pioneer for the adoption of GMO technology in developing countries.

Genetically modified maize is the dominant crop in the country, with 65 percent of maize farmers choosing the GMO variety, and public-private sector collaborations are expected to lead to the commercialization of golden rice, and GMO varieties of cotton, eggplant, and papaya.

The Philippines is often used as an example of how adoption of GMOs can improve the income of farmers within a developing country. Research from the University of the Philippines showed farmers made more money due to a higher yield, and spent less on insecticides.

In Latin America, Brazil is leading the development and expansion of GMOs. In 2016, ISAAA ranked Brazil second behind the United States in the area for biotech crop growth — a total of 49.1 million hectares. And Brazil experienced the fastest rate of expansion — 4.9 percent — from the previous year. According to a recent study on the economic impact of GM crops, GMOs have delivered financial benefit to farmers in Brazil. But this has not stopped alternative methods of sustainable agriculture from developing in the country.

Read the full article about political drives for GMOs by Lisa Cornish at Devex International Development.