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Role Of Technology In Agriculture
Development History of Genetically Modified Food
GM foods have the potential to solve the worlds starvation
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In many developing countries, rural families comprise a substantial majority of the population. For these families, land represents a fundamental asset: it is a primary source of income, security, and status. However the quality and yield of these crops are low and many farmers are unable to reach their maximum potential and raise enough capital to support them through the year. Therefore the potential use of GM crops to help increase yields and durability of crops is a positive one. However due to the controversy of GM crops within the UK and the rest of the world, developing countries are in a constant battle to try and persuade their country that GM crops are within context for the developmental needs of their country.
The first transgenic crops were created in the early 1980's by three independent groups working individually. They were resistant to antibiotics and cancer drugs, demonstrating the potential of these plants. Since then plants have been developed for commercial use, being resistant to herbicides and insects.
The advantages of GM crops are that yields are increased, the plant can possibly contain a higher level of nutrition, taste and texture are improved and the plant is able to with stand poor soil conditions. An example is `Golden rice'; this accumulates beta-carotene, once inside the body is converted into Vitamin A (www.bioteach.ubc.ca/TeachingResources). More than 120million children in the world suffer from vitamin A deficiency and `Golden rice' has the potential to eliminate between 1-2 million deaths each year caused by this deficiency (www.bioteach.ubc.ca/TeachingResources). Not only do GM crops help in concern to nutrition it is now being researched to see if vaccines can be administ...
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...eed to understand more about the countries themselves, the facilities they have, the risks that they will face and if the advantages out weigh the disadvantages. In many countries GM crops are being farmed so why should we prevent developing countries using these crops to improve their quality of life. GM crops could help reverse great financial difficulties that currently choke developing countries and dramatically reduce poverty. Perhaps the idea of developing countries climbing a new rung on the international ladder is one that threatens current ideologies in these developed nations (I'm sure that being able to put "best quality carrots in the world" on products doesn't exactly harm profits). Are we, as developed countries trying to maintain the gap between the two economies, are we afraid that no longer will have to dominating power over the worldwide economy?
Whilst some refer to transgenic organisms as, “Frankenfoods”, the proponents see this as the second Agricultural Revolution. Biochemists cite the classical example of a transgenic banana which could produce vaccines as a means to continue their research. Undoubtedly if such a banana did exist it could potentially provide millions if not billions of people access to vaccinations. The chair of the Food and Agribusiness Institute at Santa Clara University states, “Bioengineering is just a more refined process [of selective breeding], which will probably result in more productive animals and plants at a lower cost than traditional breeding methods.” This “more refined process” has served to create corn, which is resistant to pests such as corn borers; tomatoes, which can resist cold temperatures and have increased traveling durability; and arguably the most important, cattle which is resistant to mad cow disease. Aside from the clearly visible genetic advantages provided by transgenic organisms, proponents further cite the colossal economic impact of GMOs. PG Economics issued a report which reveals the net economic benefit at the farm level in 2011 was $19.8 billion, and over a 16 year period from 1996 to 2011 the global farm income gain was $98.2 billion. This 16 year period coincides with the adoption of transgenic cropping systems.
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
The use of genetically modified food has caused many to rethink their moral principles. The University of Washington's IMPACT Center conducted a survey aimed at poverty ridden countries such as Mexico, Chile, and India, focusing on the attitude toward GM crops. The survey included both poor and affluent demographics. In Chile and Mexico, 70% of participants said they were willing to purchase GM food if contained vitamins or nutrients, or used fewer pesticides. In India, 88% of participants stated that they would buy GM foods. (Ling, 2013) There is a definite need for food resources but there are concerns about the use of GM foods. These foods may cause antibiotic resistance in people who consume the pesticide containing food, and an increased risk of cancer, gastrointestinal disease and other autoimmune problems. (Wald, 2013) The question needs to be asked, are terminal illnesses worth the risk of consuming GM food? The cons overshadow the benefits of GM foods. In 2006, 97% of the global crops were grown with transgenic genes. The United States grew 53%...
The past twenty years have seen rise to a new burgeoning scientific field: genetically modified foods. During the plant breeding process, geneticists interfere with the reproduction and modify the genes of the new seedling by introducing a fragment of DNA from another organism that possesses the desired trait. With genetic modification, scientists can increase the pest, herbicide, cold, and drought tolerance so that the crop can survive in harsher climates. In some cases, the nutritional value can even be increased (Ulrich 9). Despite the obvious benefits of more nutritious foods and crops that are hardier and more resistant to harsher climates, there are some concerns surrounding GM foods. Each new alteration can cause an unforeseen allergic reaction, negate the effects of antibiotics, or potentially cause some adverse effects to the environment (Falkner 101). Every newly developed GM food must be tested on a case by case basis as there is no universal method that determines the safety of all modified components. As a result, long term effects of ingesting food with altered material are unknown.
The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory to offer desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Also, genetic engineering techniques have been applied to create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and accurately. For example, this is done by the geneticist isolating the gene responsible for drought tolerance and inserts it into another plant. The new genetically-modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
...M crops will escalate the cost of farming, causing many small farmers to potentially loose their businesses. As GMOs continue to affect human life and the environment, it should be mandatory for products to be labeled if they are genetically modified, thus giving consumers the right to make their own decision. With the list of health risks and environmental issues rising, the use of GMOs should be banned as a method to increase food supply and continue a natural approach to eliminate all risks.
GMO food can create healthy, nutritious food in greater quantities for the less fortunate. For example, Hadiya is a toddler, born to poor African farmers. Her eyes are a milky white. Blinded from birth because of a cataract caused by vitamin A deficiency in her diet, she will never see her parents, and it is likely that she won’t survive past five years old. This is sadly the case for thousands of African and South-East Asian children, just because they have a vitamin deficiency in their diet. Vitamin A is supplied by
...ence of GM crops is that genetic modifications can develop proteins in plants which a consumer could be allergic to. For example, one of the most common allergies is with the peanut. What would happen if peanut proteins interlace into tomato seeds? Then people with peanut allergies would not be able to eat genetically modified tomatoes. There are many reasons to stop the production of GM food. It can produce serious long-term nature accidents, but there is no way to know much about it until is too late (“GM Food” 2).
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a cause of continuous debate. What would be the purpose of producing genetically altered food? Many argue that GMOs could prove to be very beneficial, the use of GMOs could lead to advances in medicine, and agriculture, and they could also prevent famine in poor underdeveloped countries. Genetic modification offers many benefits: pest control, disease resistant crops, drought resistant crops, no use of insecticides, nutritional beneficial foods, and less contamination. This is only a short list of the many benefits offered by the used of GMOs. With so many benefits why are we opposed to such a miracle? (NERC 2005)
GM seeds are considered revolution in the agriculture industry for some reasons. First and foremost, GM seeds can grow crops regardless of hostile conditions, which help farmers increase revenues. Besides, as a result of population growth across the global, the demand for food continuously increases. Biotech products provided by the Monsanto Company will be the best solution for this phenomenon. Especially in populous countries like India, biotech crops allow farmers both save lands and double their harvest.
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 everyone sufficiently. No simple solutions can be found or applied when there are so many lives involved. Those who are hungry and those who are over fed, alike, have to consider the consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms. Food should not be treated like a commodity it is a human necessity on the most basic of levels. When egos, hidden agendas, and personal gains are folded into people's food sources no one wins. As in many things of life, there is no true right way or wrong way to handle either of the arguments and so many factors are involved that a ‘simple’ solution is simply not an option.
According to scientists, genetically engineering crops contributes to their quality. Crops that have been genetically modified to have a particular trait can decrease the amount of herbicides needed for growing that crop. Additionally, genetically modified (GM) crops can help third world countries, where malnutrition is common. For example, to help diminish nutrient deficiencies in developing countries, “plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content”(Whitman 2). In addition, GM crops can be modified to be able to “withstand the environmental challenges of drought, disease, and insect infestation” (Swenson 1). Growing GM crops can also result in fruits and vegetables that stay fresh for a prolonged period of time and taste better.
Genetically modified (GM) foods have become omnipresent over the past decade. They are a technological breakthrough that allows humans to manipulate and add foreign genes to crops to enhance desired traits, but they have also evolved into a controversial issue, especially for Third World countries. Some people believe that GM foods not only provide larger yields to feed hungry citizens in Third World countries, but they can also be a source of great nutritional value. For example, researchers have developed a strain of golden rice containing high amounts of vitamin A and numerous other vitamins and minerals. Additionally, GM crops are laced with herbicides and pesticides, and therefore reduce the need for chemical consumption. Opponents of GM foods claim that they pose a threat to the health of consumers and that these crops could eventually cross-pollinate in an unregulated fashion or lead to the growth of superweeds and superbugs resistant to the herbicides and pesticides woven into the genetic fiber of the crops. Developed nations should promote research and monitoring from an ethical point of view and financial assistance through philanthropic ventures in order to limit environmental and health risks. They should also make sure that limited cultural displacement will result from the introduction of GM crops and that instead, a better livelihood and well-being through collaboration will emerge. Hence, GM crops should be introduced only provided that the developed nations assume the ethical and financial responsibilities for the environmental, health, and social consequences that attend this new innovation.
We live in a world that is constantly changing and advancing thanks to technological advancements, especially in the field of molecular genetics. Today, we are discovering and implementing new ways to overcome the ill-fated symptoms developed as a result from poor health or accidents. We are also making advancements in the field of agriculture thanks to molecular genetics. As we all know, food is an essential entity in our lives and is abundant as well as relatively easy to obtain here in the United States. However, as good as it may sound, this is not necessarily true for developing countries. Many people in developing countries receive very little food, if any, due to its scarcity. It is estimated that in Asia alone, close to 800 million people go to bed hungry every night due to food shortage. This problem can be alleviated by turning to the production of genetically modified organisms (a.k.a. GMOs).
Technology cuts down on the time that it takes to grow a crop. Technology can produce more food for less work and less money. “GM crops are frequently perceived as a ‘technological fix’, proposed by those who fail to address the underlying causes of hunger and poverty, which really require economic, political and social change” (Nuffield Bioethics 29).