To an anthropologist, food is the basis to social, cultural and biological life, and therefore of the utmost concern to most people (Leng, 2016) however, with the growing population, climate changes and lack of agricultural land we have had to switch our approach to food production. Genetically modified or engineered food has become a heated topic in the media for the past few years as there is not a clear decision on whether their benefits outweigh their concerns. Genetically modified food is a grey area to discuss as there are strong opinions surrounding which tend to be very biased.
The difference between genetically modified food and genetically engineered food isn’t explained and the terms tend to be used interchangeably- however,
…show more content…
Since 1996, farmers in developing countries have received an extra 70 billion dollars from switching to genetically modified crops as they are able to produce a higher yield (Staropoli, 2016). Globally, farmers have reported that on average, they were able to make back over 3 dollars on every genetically modified plant in comparison to traditional crops. However, that 3 dollars was actually over 4 dollars in developing countries in South America, Africa, and parts of Asia (Staropoli, 2016). For example, corn farmers who had genetically modified insect resistant crops claimed to have a 13 percent increase in their yield, whilst cotton farmers had a 17 percent yield in comparison to conventional farmers (Lendman, 2008). Farmers are able to get a notable yield improvement but at the cost of plant diversity and vulnerable plants.
In the last one-hundred years, the global seed diversity has declined 75-90%. The majority of our world relies on less than 20 different crops (Gidding, 2016). This highlights many concerns revolving around genetically modified plants vulnerability and a lack of plant evolution. We continue to lose touch with our wild plants. In 2014, over 180 million hectares of genetically modified crops were cultivated by more than 18 million farmers in 28 countries (Kalaitzandonakes, Phillips, Wesseler, & Symth,
Genetically modified food’s, or GMOs, goal is to feed the world's malnourished and undernourished population. Exploring the positive side to GMOs paints a wondrous picture for our planet’s future, although careful steps must be taken to ensure that destruction of our ecosystems do not occur. When GMOs were first introduced into the consumer market they claimed that they would help eliminate the world’s food crisis by providing plants that produced more and were resistant to elemental impacts like droughts and bacterial contaminants, however, production isn’t the only cause for the world’s food crisis. Which is a cause for concern because the population on the earth is growing and our land and ways of agriculture will not be enough to feed
By genetically modifying traits in plants, biotechnology allows for higher food production in a wider array of places without the use of chemicals or limited resources. The increased crop availability results in economic profit, not only in the United States, but in developed and non-developed nations around the globe. A study to support this claim from Iowa State University shows that without GMO’s, global prices would be nearly 10% higher for soybeans and 6% higher for corn, two largely grown crops throughout the world. The net economic benefit for farmers in 2011 was $19.8 billion (PG Economics, 1996-2011). This results in an average rise in income of $329 per acre. For the entire 16-year period since the introduction of GMO’s, the increase in global
Humans have been altering the genetic makeup of plants for millennia, keeping seeds from the best crops and planting them in following years, breeding and crossbreeding varieties to make them taste sweeter, grow bigger, last longer. In this way we've transformed the wild tomato, Lycopersicon, from a fruit the size of a marble to today's giant, juicy beefsteaks. From a weedy plant called teosinte with an "ear" barely an inch long has come our foot-long (0.3-meter-long) ears of sweet white and yellow corn. In just the past few decades plant breeders have used traditional techniques to produce varieties of wheat and rice plants with higher grain yields. They have also created hundreds of new crop variants using irradiation and mutagenic
Genetically modified crops are an incredibly important issue that everyone should be aware of since it is something we are exposed to at a daily basis. Genetically modified crops also known as GM crops or Biotech crops has been one of the most heated debates of issues within our society. The debate about the safety, concerns and disadvantages of GM crops have raged since the mid 1990 's but this is due to the lack of knowledge of the general public. Many people are unaware of what the GM crops actually are and what they offer. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in the agriculture and have been modified to initiate a new trait to plants that does not happen naturally in the species. These plants are modified using genetic engineering techniques to enhance desired traits. GM crops are made when genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another.() There are many methods used for the production of GM crops but the two primary used for plant insertion are gene guns and agrobacterium tumefaciens. There are also three types of modifications which are transgenic, cisgenic, and subgenic plants. However, there are a number of issues that surround this controversial topic such as environmental, health, and economic concerns. Even though there are some worrying facts about GM crops people don 't realize the advantages or the ways it has helped humans as well as animals. There are many reasons why GM crops are proven
In an ever changing world, there are only a few things that are certain that all people need. It is said that a human can last three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three weeks without food. The typical American farmer in 2017 feeds about 155 people compared to the 25.8 people in 1960. The thought of genetically modified organisms is nothing more than just a regulatory muddle. Agriculture is such a widely conversed topic however, through extensive research, international experiments, and general education, it is clear that genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are safe on all aspects as well as necessary to continue to feed the people.
Most public concern has been focused on human health and safety regarding the use and consumption of these foods, but potential environmental impacts are important to consider as well. Many varieties of genetically engineered crops are intended to decrease the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, but the scope of environmental impacts does not stop at chemical usage. Common concerns about GM crops include the effects of cross-pollination, so-called “genetic contamination,” and the escape of GM crops from cultivation and their interactions with native species. Conversely, the environmental benefits of GM crops range from reducing dependence on chemical pesticides to the ability to treat polluted soils with bioremediating plants (Ford, 2004).
“Today we use the term ‘genetically modified’ to refer to food produced from plants or animals which have had their genes changed by scientists in the laboratory rather than farmers in the field,” said by Nick Middleton (51). Genetically modified foods have become a hot topic in the world. People have still not been able to label it as a “Frankenstein food or a weapon against starvation” (Middleton 51). Genetically modified foods should be allowed for public consumption because it helps deal with the issue of world hunger, it improves overall quality of food, and it helps the environment.
It is a common saying, “You are what you eat.” While many may consider this a harmless persuasion to eat healthily, the soaring popularity of GM food in society has prompted consumers to question their food choices. Ever since the initial modification of genetic material in 1972, GMOs have become an increasingly standard component in the advancement of scientific and agricultural research (Statista). However, the benefits of GMOs come at a costly price, one that is not worth paying for. While it remains true that GM foods present with some economic and nutritional advantages, there is immense retaliation regarding their contribution to sustainable development through their controversial issues. This makes them unfit and unsafe for cultivation
In contrast, the counter argument claims that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption. However, GMOs actually improve human health by reducing the amount of pesticides needed for successful crop production. With the use of GMOs in crop production, the amount of pesticide and herbicide application has decreased. To resume, successful crop production is essential to a farmer’s success, which could be why over 18 million farmers throughout the world utilize GMOs. The successful production of crops can be achieved by genetically modifying crops with resistance against insects, weeds, and other threats. Resistance to different stressors has reduced pesticide applications by 8.1 percent. Additionally, crops that are modified to be resistant to specific
Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic make-up have been changed by mutating, inserting, or deleting genes, by using genetic engineering techniques or biotechnology (Klein, Wolf, Wu & Sanford, 1987). The topic of genetically modified organisms became very controversial in today’s world. GMO have been used not only in producing vegetable, but also in medical and biological researches, drug production, and medical treatments. However, the food field generates the biggest controversy since it relates to a lot of different issues. Genetically modified food concerns people over their benefits, if they are resistant to disease, or improve the nutrition of the foods. It is also a moral and ethical issue for a lot of vegan, vegetarians and some religious groups, as the transfer of animal genes into plants goes against their believes.
Genetically modified crops have been developed and harvested since 1996 on a wide scale in the world. Genetically modified crops are generally defined as the biotechnologically designed genes that are chosen and transferred from one organism to another, often unrelated, organism with the purpose to achieve certain results in harvest. According to Carton, Mochini, and Sheldon (2011), “[These] crops can survive under harsh conditions, costs are lowered, and yields are improved” (p. xxi). These crops are now widely grown worldwide. Naturally, corn is rooted in a 6000 year old history of South America (Wilkes,
Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are plants and animals that have been biologically engineered with the DNA of other plants, animals, bacteria, etc. Such modifications and combinations cannot occur in nature through crossbreeding or by other organic means. While GMO’s are commonplace in the vast majority of our marketplace, information and facts about them is not. Information can be found, but it must be sought out from different sources from our Government, Educational Institute’s and Non Profit Organizations. The debate over genetically engineered foods, and the disclosure of what exactly is being done to them, has become a hot button topic. From grassroots campaigns, to the upcoming presidential election,
The alteration of plant and animal genetic codes for the ultimate purpose of increasing food abundance is an increasingly popular, yet controversial practice in the 21st century. Genetic engineering of food is done for a number of reasons, the biggest of which is increasing food supplies in the world, especially for the third world countries. However, there are arguments and even activist movements against genetic engineering of food, which begs the question “why is genetically engineered food so controversial?” The pro and con arguments of the genetic engineering of food cannot be overlooked. Although it is a controversial practice, genetically engineered food is more useful than harmful to people and the planet.
Genetically engineered foods are defined as foods that have had genes from other animals or plants (hereby referred to as foreign genes) added onto their genetic codes. The genetic engineering technique can be employed on animals, plants, or on such microorganisms as bacteria (NIH). The question of whether foods derived from such organisms should be approved for human consumption is what has raised widespread controversy among many circles. There are those who view GM foods as the ultimate solution to major challenges of the 21st century while others see them as a threat to human health and the environment. Notably, the global society is facing major challenges key among them being food insecurity and environmental issues such as global warming and climate change. Genetically engineered foods present a potential solution to these challenges. This paper will argue that with adequate research and regulation, genetically engineered foods should be approved owing to the benefits they present in terms of increased food production and quality, as well as eliminating the need to compromise the environment in the pursuit of more cultivation land and higher crop yield.
It is alarming to know that there is a dispute over the use of the genetically modified food. Some people consider GM food to be dangerous and they say that they are detrimental to health and biodiversity would be disturbed by their use hence they must not be used. On the contrary, others believe that using GM food would benefit the world by providing disease resistant plants and save future hunger. There is still a debate going on whether GM food products should or should not be used.