Few scientific innovations have polarized public opinion like genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Since the 1990s, genetically engineered crops have been pitched as the silver bullet against hunger: crops that resist pests, survive droughts, and boost yields in regions struggling with food insecurity. Today, over 70% of processed foods in the United States contain GMO ingredients, while countries in the European Union remain fiercely restrictive. At the center of the push are biotech giants like Monsanto (now Bayer), Syngenta, and Corteva, alongside philanthropic powerhouses such as the Bill & Melinda Gates