GMO Argumentative Essay

547 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages of genetically modified foods

There are millions of foods in the world, but did you know that foods can be change genetically? Genetically modified foods are the result of a procedure that allows the molecules to be changed. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that changed the DNA of foods, unnaturally. The topic of genetically modified foods is a controversial one. However, genetically modified foods are beneficial to farmers, the environment, and consumers. Adding GMOs to foods assist farmers in several different ways. In the article, "Genetically Modified Organisms," the author states, "The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations also says that farmers can grow more food on less land with genetically modified crops" (Vaesa, Janelle). GMOs can help a farmer by allowing them to plant more, meaning make more and sell more crops. It allows the diversity to grow on the farms. Another article states, "The rationale is that they reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides as well as reducing the manpower needed to successfully grow the crops" (Murnaghan, Ian). GMOs help prevent pesticides from invading the crops. Some crops such as corn cannot grow without additives. GMOs …show more content…

GMOs can help with that. In an article called, "Benefits of GMO foods," the author states, "Soil salinity has become a major problem in all agriculture especially in the San Joaquin Valley. This has made crops less able to grow and in some cases unable to grow at all" (classes.soe.ucsc.edu). GMOs have helped prevent soil salinity from happening more often. Without GMOs, soil would make it harder to grow crops and feed people. In the article, "Five ways GMOS benefit the environment," the author states, "Tilling is used (among other things) as a weed-management method, but it also removes nutrients from the soil, causes more erosion and run-off, and harms earthworms, ants and other organisms"

Show More
Related

  • Persuasive Essay On Gmo Labeling

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    Do you know what you're really voting for? Iowan farmer Reg Clause suggests you may not in his column, “Say ‘no’ to GMO labeling.” Reminding readers that general election day has come, he attempts to convince us that a certain law should be voted against. The proposed legislation would mandate all foods that contain genetically modified organisms, also know as GMOs, to display a warning label on their packaging. He argues that this would be detrimental to the good name of these types of foods when they do not deserve to be shamed. I agree that the genetically engineered crops should not be labeled, but not because that would tarnish their name. However, the reasoning for my opinion comes from the perspective that it would not only be impractical

    Read More

  • Negative Essay: Devil's Advocate On GMO

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    GMO`s are starting to rapidly take over our food supply, but what exactly is a GMO? A GMO is a make up of DNA that is combined forcefully with a plant or animals DNA, and creates a new version of it. Seeing these products sold in stores for the first time people question what the change is from the natural, and organics, because when someone reads GMO they wonder if it is healthy and safe to consume.

    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

  • Persuasive Essay On Non Gmo

    633 Words  | 2 Pages

    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 and wildlife. Since some birds and small mammals feed on these crops, they will soon disappear. They will disappear because they are making the crops pest resistant.

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Foods Argumentative Essay

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to an article titled “Genetically Modified Foods Eaten” regularly by Linda A. Johnson today, essentially 40% of the foods we eat are genetically modified, unless you eat organic foods and/or you grow your own. Most products containing corn, soil, canola oil, or cottonseed oil contain genetic modification. One of the biggest genetic modification company is Monsanto (Johnson). She goes on to say many Americans don’t even know they are consuming genetically engineered foods. In “Genetically Modified Foods Confuse Consumers” by Mary Clare Jalonick writing in the Washington Times, has talked about how this is because the FDA does not require them to be labeled. Jalonick has said, “Genetically modified foods are plants or animals that have

    Read More

  • Thesis Statement For Gmo Foods Essay

    1886 Words  | 4 Pages

    The main focus of this article is to show the impact of GMOs on soil and environment. Stuart Newman received an A.B. from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in chemical physics from the University of Chicago. He has been a visiting professor at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, the Centre à l'Energie Atomique-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, the University of Tokyo, and was a Fogarty Senior International Fellow at Monash University, Australia. He was a founding member of the Council for Responsible Genetics, Cambridge, Mass. The source’s credibility comes not only from the fact that the author belongs to the scientific community but also that he cites several other scientists and academicians.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay: The Value Of Genetically Modified Organisms

    1926 Words  | 4 Pages

    Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a highly debated topic all around the world. Someone from each side of the debate has an argument as to why GMOs should or should not be produced. Unfortunately, many others who are consuming these genetically modified products do not know that they are eating them and they do not know what they are. According to The American Heritage Dictionary online edition, a GMO is “an organism whose genetic characteristics have been altered by the insertion of a modified gene or a gene from another organism using the techniques of genetic engineering.” For example, corn had been modified to withstand herbicides giving farmers the ability to spray their crops with much more pesticides. In return, these pesticides

    Read More

  • GMO Argumentative Essay

    925 Words  | 2 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • The Benefits and Risks of Genetically Modified Foods

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    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)

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Organisms

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    Scientists have been changing genomes of plants and animals by integrating new genes from a different species through genetic engineering, creating a genetically modified organism (GMO). Consumers in America have been eating GMOs since 1996, when they went on the market. There are benefits to genetically modifying crop plants, as it improves the crop quality and increases yield, affecting the economy and developing countries. But there are also negative effects from GMOs. Consumption of GMOs has various health effects on both body systems of animals and humans. GMOs also affect the environment, ecosystems and other animal species. The cons outweigh the pros in the case of GMOs.

    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

  • Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms

    699 Words  | 2 Pages

    Genetically modified organisms can be plants or animals that have been genetically altered to produce or express a desired characteristic or trait. By genetically altering organisms such as crops, we can eliminate the use of pesticides by making the crops resistant to insects. We can also produce crops that are resistant to floods and droughts. Furthermore, with the use of molecular genetics, we are able to produce foods that are rich in nutrients and supplements. People in developing countries may not be fortunate enough to have a full course meal that contains nutrients from all four basic food groups. However, GMOs can with a little modification provide all the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals included in a good diet by simply consuming a genetically modified staple crop such as rice. In addition, by producing crops that are resistant to harsh environmental conditions as well as pests, we would see a rapid increase in the production of food thereby reducing and or!

    Read More

  • Gmo Pros And Cons Essay

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most important pros about GMOs that everyone is concerned about is that it will produce a longer shelf life, which will make it safer to transport to different countries. GMOs can also supply more nutrients and help fight world malnutrition, making it better for Americans to eat, by making it healthier. “Seeds are genetically modified for multiple reasons, which include improving resistance to insects and generating healthier crops. This can lower the risk of crop failure, and make crops better resistant to extreme weather.” (Mandel).

    Read More

  • The Effects of Genetic Engineering on Agriculture

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetic engineering increases the agricultural economy, the yields of agricultural produce, and also causes negative effects on the ecosystem. Genetic engineering enhances plant resistance to drought, salinity, disease, pests and herbicides. The aim is to try and enhance the growth, productivity, nutrient value, and chemical composition of the plants. Chemicals are constantly being developed or improved to enhance the competitiveness and adaptability of crops, and to kill the parasites and weeds that plague the agricultural sector. . This however is not always good as the plant and the pests then become resistant to these new chemicals, defeating the purpose of it being used.

    Read More

  • Genetically Modified Foods Should Be Banned

    1392 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetically modified foods most commonly refers to the plants, which has been modified in the laboratory to enhance improved nutritional content and aimed traits created for human beings and animals. With progress in various types of technology, especially in genetic engineering, farmers and scientists have changed the way in which food is grown and made, raising questions about the methods, their risks and possible effects. It is not a secret that GMF-ed foods have spread out rapidly to the whole world. GMFs have raised concerns over their own beneficial in that they are resistant to diseases, produces greater yields, and it improves the nutrition of foods making the people unaware about their effects. Every time we go to any grocery stores or supermarkets, we would not know whether the vegetables, fruits or even meats being sold are genetically modified. To make this situation worse, most consumers do not pay much attention to what they are eating, when they are actually consuming modified foods.

    Read More

More about GMO Argumentative Essay

Open Document