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A few years ago, I was invited to give a talk at the English Salon, a weekly seminar series sponsored by the YWCA Language School in Nagoya, Japan. My topic was genetically modified (GM) food and my stance was distinctly supportive. (Don’t start throwing the rotten tomatoes now!) Despite my hour-and-a-half long presentation, I was unable to convince most of the audience that GM foods were safe to eat and had many environmental benefits as well.
GM food seems relatively benign if it’s the result of cross-breeding two organisms of the same species, such as crossing strawberry plants with a deeper red color with those that have larger fruit. The type of genetic modification that causes the greatest ire amongst consumers and activists, however, is when genes from two totally unrelated organisms are combined. For example, “Roundup Ready” soybean crops have been genetically engineered to carry a gene from a bacteria that is resistant to Roundup, a weed killer. When Roundup is sprayed on these crops, every plant in the vicinity dies except the soybeans.
Sounds frightening and unnatural, but consider the positive effects genetically modified crops would have on health, farming methods, and the environment. Current and future GM products include:
- Food that can deliver vaccines – bananas that produce hepatitis B vaccine
- More nutritious foods – rice with increased iron and vitamins
- Faster growing fish, fruit and nut trees
- Plants producing new plastics
Jonathan Rauch wrote in The Atlantic Monthly,
Recall that world food output will need to at least double and possibly triple over the next several decades. Even if production could be increased that much using conventional technology, which is doubtful, the required amounts of pesticide and fertilizer and other polluting chemicals would be immense. If properly developed, disseminated, and used, genetically modified crops might well be the best hope the planet has got.
The Human Genome Project summarizes the controversies surrounding GM foods:
- Potential human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects
- Potential environmental impact: unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms (e.g., soil microbes), and loss of flora and fauna biodiversity
- Domination of world food production by a few companies
- Increasing dependence on Industralized nations by developing countries
- Biopiracy – foreign exploitation of natural resources
- Violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic values
- Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species
- Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa
- Stress for animal
- Labeling not mandatory in some countries (e.g., United States)
- Mixing GM crops with non-GM confounds labeling attempts
- New advances may be skewed to interests of rich countries
There’s no doubt that the GM food supply should be closely monitored and regulated, but that doesn’t mean it should all be banned. I believe that genetic engineering of plants, animals, and humans has much to offer as long as we are aware of potential benefits and side effects. And that’s true even for more traditional methods of farming, animal husbandry, and medicine.
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I major in environmental studies and I have to say that you are the first person that I have found who is for genetically modified food. This is an interesting debate, as are many environmental problems because there are many different angles to consider. I am personally against GMO’s and I eat organic food as well as locally grown produce. I believe that much more research needs to be done before people should consider this technology safe because the effects are not yet fully known and because countries like the UK have banned GMO’s. As consumers, simply buying organic will push companies like Monsanto to invest in safer agricultural alternatives, making GMO’s less available.
161 days ago
[...] GMO tech is still too young to trust its producers [...]
it was really interesting and contained alot of information
This is clearly the wrong way forward. In fact, 53% of Americans say that they do not want to eat GM foods. However, we do not know when we are eating it. This is called stealth GMOs; when an organism is GM, however, it’s presence in the food chain is carefully concealed. The GM giants such as Monsanto are just too scared to label their ingredients as GM, paranoid that it will have a negative impact on the consumer’s decision on purchasing the product. Organic farming has been there, and always will. The one point that people are saying on how GM foods will benefit mankind, is its ability to “feed the world,” when the UNWFP shows that there is more than enough food to feed everyone on this planet a healthy diet. The reason 800 million people suffer from starvation every year is because of lack of proper distribution. Feeding the world has to do with politics and distribution, not just the growth of the crops.
To anyone who thinks that a superweed will arise because of gm crops has never thought that herbicides will do the same thing. also gm crops do not just benefit the big companies it will help the people who are going blind from vitamin a deficiency but gm food like golden rice will stop this from happening.
Wow! There are so many things wrong with GM crops/food sources. The number one is that it puts the small local farmer out of business, therefore food will more than likely be imported from overseas. There isn’t enough research done on this science. It doesn’t produce more;it actually produces less crops. Good luck getting local organic food!! The only people that benefit from this is big corporations such as Monsanto, Dow, Dupont, etc. , not the farmer who it should go to. Our seed will no longer be pure. What happens when a new threat/superweed emerges? Goodbye GM crops…….. This is all a plot of the Gov’t sponsored corporations to control the food supply of the world. He who holds the seed controls the world’s food supply. There’s a reason that almost all of Europe has an outright ban on these crops. Japan as well as Thailand too. This is a disgrace to all real farmers out there.
Your either really ignorant or really misinformed, ive seen my uncles take their farm into new levels with gm soy, gm corn, gm wheat, and gm sugar beats, everything they have planted has required less fertilizer and pesticides, they are saving the planet right now, and you call it a disgrace……thats pathetic.
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The biggest challenge in the times to come is of Food Security for future generations.
This needs continous research in food production/ha and per animal.
GMO technology has shown hope to meet food requirements of ever expanding population. Whatever fears have been expressed are based on FEARS. No body so far has brought any proof based on research against GMO. This technology can not be rejected just because some have shown future concerns of May B and May NOT B.
In the history innovations were never stopped to solve population problems. whenever there is some new innovations always such intellectuals appear giving their opinions based on only FEARS therefore this research must continue to assure food security to the world
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Advantages of Genetically Modified Foods
1.Genetically modified foods can impact the environment in many positive ways. They have resulted in the production of “friendly” bioherbicides and bioinsecticides. They assist in conservation of soil, water and energy. The bioprocessing of forestry products is a possibility. This technology also enables better natural waste management and improved processing.
2.Genetic modification enhances the taste and quality of food. Modified foods possess increased nutrients, yields and stress tolerance. The maturation time is reduced and resistance to disease, pests and herbicides is increased. Genetic modification has also opened up many new growing techniques.
3.It provides increased food security to our world which is experiencing ever-increasing food needs.
4.Genetically modified animals produce better eggs and milk. Their meat is of a superior quality. They have increased resistance, productivity, hardiness and feed efficiency. They also experience better health during their lifetime.
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Wow, this has really helped with my project for American Government class (we had to pick a cabinet department [USDA] and then create a presentation on an issue that department is facing and how to help solve it.)
Even before the project I was in favor of GECs/GEFs but now after the project I have gained a better sense than what I had before for GECs/GEFs. Being an FFA member, I hope to do a prepared speech on the topic of GEFs/GECs or atleast see the world of Ag. be bettered by the usuage of the modified foods/crops.
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Hello,
I am Kira Eve. I am a high school student from Amherst Regional High School and I am writing an article for our school newspaper about genetically modified foods. I have been doing research about GM foods and would appreciate it if you could respond to some questions for me if not that is okay. And you are the first person I found that supports it so it would be great to hear from you!! Thank you!!!
1. How do you personally feel about genetically modified crops?Why?
2. Do you think they would be beneficial to fighting world hunger?Why or why not?
3. What do you think about food companies putting genetically modified foods on the market with out properly labeling them?Why?
4. Do you think our world will later regret producing genetically modified foods? Why?
5. Do you think the potential dangers out weigh the benefit? Why?
6. Anything else?