Effect On The Environment: Effect On The Environment

1023 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The health benefits of vegetarianism

g. Effect On The Environment Because GMOs are more pesticide resistant, there is no question that without fear of damaging plants, famers will increase the amount of pesticides and herbicides they will use on their crops. This in turn will increase the amount of poison in the food chain as well as the water wells as a result of irrigation. Both of these issues not only affect citizens now, but will also continue to affect future populations. It is important to stop this progression in its tracks before it is too late.
h. Socio-Economic Issues Because GMOs are a patented biotechnology, they are expensive. When farmers make the decision to purchase genetically modified crops, they enter a cycle that is nearly impossible to stop. Most farming …show more content…

During the summer of 2015 I spent a month in Europe studying environmental sustainability. While I was in Budapest, I visited the Brodowin farm, a farming operation centered on biodynamic agriculture. The farm believes in the health of their customers and the sustainability of the earth. The Brodowin farm also believes it is important to follow a balanced diet to remain healthy and productive, and they recognize that more and more people are choosing to rely on organic products. They encourage people to consume organic products to avoid harmful additives as well as to follow the rules of Demeter …show more content…

A large benefit is the protection organic farms provide the planet for our future generations, something a future with a large use of GMOs does not guarantee. Because many plants have a natural resistance to pests and draught, these plants require few to no alternative products to protect and sustain their life. By decreasing the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and GMOs, water pollution that occurs from the run off of irrigation is decreased. Organic farming also promotes biodiversity and serve as a form of reforestation. The farms are a safe haven for indigenous animals and attract beneficial insects to create a balanced environment. There is a thriving diverse wild life on organic farms that cannot be found on industrial farms. Because of organic farming, future generations will be able to enjoy a healthier and more sustainable

Show More
Related

  • A Rhetorical Analysis

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today’s economy and the environment are hurting due to the lack of nurture we have been providing. Conventional farming rules the world of agriculture, but not without a fight from organic farming. Organic farming is seen as the way of farming that might potentially nurture our nature back to health along with the added benefit of improving our own health. With her piece “Organic farming healthier, more efficient than Status Quo,” published in the Kansas State Collegian on September 3, 2013, writer Anurag Muthyam brings forth the importance behind organic farming methods. Muthyam is a senior at Kansas State University working towards a degree in Management. This piece paints the picture of how organic farming methods

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Genetically Modified Foods

    702 Words  | 2 Pages

    Because of the increase in population, products need to be manufactured in a faster and more efficient way, and with genetically modified foods, the food is larger in size and quicker to harvest. Another advantage of GM foods is that it uses less fertilizer and less water and is more resistant to insects, diseases, frost, and drought. Consumers would not want to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of possible health hazards and growing GM foods can help eliminate the use of chemical pesticides. Plants that are genetically engineered to resist strong herbicide will help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. This will benefit both the companies and the environment because the production cost is reduced and the danger of agricultural waste run-off is limited. As more land is being used for housing instead of food production, crops need to adapt to locations unsuited

    Read More

  • Gmo Pros And Cons

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we genetically modify an organism, we are creating an entirely new species. This can mean disaster for the surrounding natural organisms. These GM crops, which have been created to fight pests and weeds, can easily win in a competition for survival. Long-term effects include endangering these unmodified species, or even driving them to extinction. Another problem is that consumers don’t know when they’re eating GM foods. You might be allergic to fish, and then you go grocery shopping. You buy tomatoes to use in your dinner that night, with no knowledge that they have fish genes that can trigger your allergies. Allergic reactions to these modified foods are just another issue that comes up when GMOS come into play. Also, when we buy these foods, we’re supporting big industries that have patents on all these crops. The fact that people can patent crops just because they stuck some new DNA in them doesn’t make sense to begin with, but furthermore, the local, organic farmers who don’t want to, or can’t afford to pay these industries to use their patented crops are losing business.

    Read More

  • What Is The Fall Of Argentina Essay

    644 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...to be resistant to the company's own Roundup herbicide This means that farmers are utterly dependent on Monsanto; a situation similar as with the United States. The biggest adversaries of GM soybeans are environmentalist. For example, floods are happening because of soya farming in the region of Santa Fe and Chaco where the Salado River begins. The deforestation and the low permeability of the soil used in soya farming contributed to more channeling more water into the river. On the other side, people claim that GM crops are required to fight hunger in poor and developing countries. Evidence shows otherwise. GM crops have increased the use of pesticides while increasing poverty. Over 170,000 famers have had to quit on their lands because they couldn’t compete with big GM farmers, thus leading to more poverty. Also, herbicides have introduced new health problems.

    Read More

  • Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Foods

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetically modified foods have a huge impact on our environment. One way that genetically modified foods are hurting our environment is that process can involve the exchange of genes between two totally different species. People are actually putting scorpion toxin into corn and fish antifreeze into tomatoes (De Greef). These changes in the plants make the plant able to with stand the attack of pests and weather, but it is still possible that the plant’s DNA will cross and make bad toxins. If a farmer plants a crop that has the resistance to herbicides, drought, cold, and pests those plants can eventually cross with weeds and then the farmer will end up with weeds that are resistant to everything too. Then the scientists will end up having to make the plants stronger to fight off the weeds, then the weeds will get stronger, and the cycle will keep on going. Another argument for the ban of...

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Non Gmo

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, there is too much Gmo in our food. We should make less foods with GMO and grow more foods on farms. Also a lot of people prefer non GMO foods over GMO foods. If we also make more of our food on farms we can get more people to get jobs. “ GM critics also worry that transgenic crops could harm wildlife and cause lasting damage to fragile food chains. GM crops harm wildlife. Since some birds and small mammals feed on these crops they will soon disappear. They will disappear because they are making the crops

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Foods Persuasive Essay

    473 Words  | 1 Pages

    When growing genetically modified foods, companies use a ton of different pesticides to increase their growth rate and size. What you don't realize it that when you eat those foods or even around them, you're consuming all those unknown, harmful pesticides. If those are damaging the land where they grow, imagine what they can do to your body. Some areas where these foods were grown is not usable now due to problems within the soil. Once the ground gets like this, it takes awhile for those chemicals to leave the soil for plant life to begin to grow again.

    Read More

  • Effects Of Environment On Environment Essay

    2350 Words  | 5 Pages

    According to the internet human behavior has a very big affect on the environment. Environmental settings such as air pollution, oceans, energy, or noise are all sources that can negatively impact the environmental quality and conditions. Our daily routines have a huge impact on the environment and we do not realize it. New laws that are passing and educating people will help a lot. People are being educated on how to use less water, use our cars less, how to use less energy, and even taking reusable bags when going grocery shopping because plastic bags are very bad for the environment. There are simple solutions that can help in getting started with these efforts. Every little step and effort we make in our daily routines count.

    Read More

  • Negative Effects of GMOs

    846 Words  | 2 Pages

    If crops were affected by droughts, disease and insects, having destroyed many acres across America’s Midwest region, the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) would not be beneficial in regenerating new crops. Genetically modifying foods (GMOs) “are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding” (nongmoproject.org). Most research done has concluded no positive benefits in using GMOs. There are serious health risks associated with eating GM foods based on scientific research done around the world. The purpose of GMOs are to increase production of crop yield and reduce pesticide use but research says otherwise. If farmers wanted to continue using GMOs to produce crops, labeling should be mandatory to allow consumers to have a conscious choice whether or not to eat GM food. Through research it has been proven that the use of GMOs to increased production of crops during a time of drought or disease have no benefits, just risks.

    Read More

  • Organic Farming vs Factory Farming

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many consumers and farmers have discovered that living in an industrialized culture where the focus has become faster, bigger, and cheaper is not the best way to produce our food. Obsessed with productivity, the agriculture industry is reaping the negative consequences of creating an unsustainable environment for food production. Time and time again, the media captures stories regarding deadly bacterial contamination and dangerous pesticide contamination causing illness and death in our communities. The environment is also damaged and contaminated. This devastating trend, due to irresponsible farming practices as a result of the industrialization of the food industry, has become all too common. Returning to organic farming, which our grandparents referred to as farming, and reclaiming our food is not only our choice, it is our right.

    Read More

  • Business Ethics Case Study: Monsanto Attempts To Balance Stakeholders

    437 Words  | 1 Pages

    Meanwhile, detrimental effects of GM seeds might outweigh their benefits. There is lack of researches that can gauge the long-term effects of GM seeds on humans and animals’ health. Critics blame glyphosate which is the main ingredient of Roundup herbicide for causing harm to farmers’ health and also the surroundings because of its lasting residues. In addition to the drawbacks of GM seeds, organic farmers stated that GM products will contaminate their conventional seeds and the combination between those seeds can create mutative one which poses a threat to the

    Read More

  • Organic versus Conventional Farming

    1455 Words  | 3 Pages

    For years organic farmers and conventional farmers have feuded over which is superior. Organic farmers argue that their product is more eco-friendly because they do not use the synthetic chemicals and fertilizers conventional farmer’s use. Conventional farmers argue that their product is healthier and yields more. People tend to have stereotypes regarding the two types of farmers. Organic farmers are usually thought of as liberal, hippy, tree-huggers while conventional farmers are usually thought of as right-wing, industrialists. Obviously, some do adhere to this stereotype, but a majority of these farmers are normal, hardworking people. Although these farmers, both believe in their methods, one is no better than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but there is no true superior method of crop farming.

    Read More

  • Growing Demand for Non-GMO Foods: Risks and Benefits

    820 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is evident that the majority of American farmers utilize biotech seeds, because of the risks that the insect resistant and herbicide resistant traits help reduce. GMO's make the life of a farmer much easier as they do not have to worry about rushing to spray herbicides, to keep weeds out, or worrying about insects damaging crops and having to spray pesticides. For instance, Brian Scott a farmer in Indiana, when corn root worms starts indulging on his organic crops, the worms will cause a significant damage before he can react accordingly and eliminate the problem with the use of chemicals. These corn root worms won't affect Scott's insect resistant GMO corn because the pesticide is always in the plant. In addition, the GM corn was created only to harm a small group of insects and this allows for other beneficial insects to survive and assist the crops, since Scott did not have to spray pesticides. Farmers use GM crops mainly because of a reliability issue, not only are biotech plants easier to maintain, but they are less likely to cause a devastating loss. To a point where even insurance companies will provide farmers with lower premiums. Troy Rausch, another Indiana farmer, states "... when you're delayed by a couple weeks by rain like we were this year, the GM traits come in awfully handy for weed control". The GM traits are of much benefit to Rausch as they eliminate the need for him to utilize his time and combat against pesky weeds. The use of GMO's in the agricultural space eliminates many risks that would be common in conventionally bred

    Read More

  • Organic Foods vs. Non-organic Foods

    1255 Words  | 3 Pages

    they can increase choice of organic foods. Nevertheless, for the majority of people, they need cheaper food, and they should regard conventional foods as their first choice. No matter what people choose organic or conventional foods, their main purpose is to get a healthier body. If people focus on changing their eating habits, not comparing organic foods with conventional foods, they will be healthier. As long as people can change their eating habits like eating more vegetables and less meat, they will get a healthier body whether they eat organic or conventional foods.

    Read More

  • Organic Farming Essay

    1403 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ers in future. Thirdly, we can import professional trainers from other countries who have better technologies and have better crop production. For instance, countries like China, India, United States of America, Indonesia and Brazil are successful in this field and trainers from these countries are capable of training our local organic farmers for better improvement of agricultural sector. Fourthly, study trip to organic farms can be carried out for both scholars and farmers as a fun way to learn and appreciate the enormous benefits that it could provide to environment. Last but not least, law enforcement should be implemented in our country so that the land which has been abandoned could be utilized efficiently. Since countries which do not practice organic farming are deprived from many benefits, as such, the role of organic farming should not be under-estimated.

    Read More

More about Effect On The Environment: Effect On The Environment

Open Document