Lots of GMOs are engineered to require pesticides in order to survive
This is a common misconception, many are bred to better tolerate certain pesticides but in no way do they need pesticides to survive more than any non-GM crop. In many cases less pesticide use is required as they are bred to be specifically resistant to specific pests.
https://gmoanswers.com/do-gmos-lead-increased-pesticide-use
https://www.acsh.org/news/2014/11/06/meta-analysis-shows-gm-crops-reduce-pesticide-use-37-percent
Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding, but I still think its safe to say that a plant engineered for pesticide resilience is probably going to have pesticides used on it. As for pest resistant crops, right on. A much better solution than pesticide use.
Also, as for breeding of plants, I have no objections. I've experimented with hybridizing plants in my own garden more than a few times. Gene splicing does make me nervous, but mainly because a careless researcher could inadvertently turn a species invasive. Not such a big concern in the agro industry though, since most of those genetics are designed to self terminate.
On a bit of a tangent, its really just modern farming practices in general that bother me. Monocropping on a large scale causes all sorts of problems with migrating creatures, demands the use of pest control, and tends to beat the life out of the soil. I guess I just wish more people would keep a garden to supplement their diet.
Just the same, I avoid them where at all possible. Lots of GMOs are engineered to require pesticides in order to survive, and some of those pesticides are bad for the environment and body.