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essays about gmo's
what are the arguments for and against genetically modified food
essays about gmo's
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Genetically modified organisms, a complex substance, have stirred up a global argument that is as equally complex. With people on both sides of the argument, who are firm believers in their opinion, it is hard to choose which opinion to believe in. It is important for the public to understand that “GM technology adds desirable traits from nature, without introducing anything unnatural or using chemicals, so that food is more plentiful” (“The Facts about GMOs”). The everyday person has a common misconception that genetically modified organisms are bad for humans and the environment because of the bad reputation that the non-scientific world gives them. The World Health Organization is cited saying, “Genetically modified foods are “foods derived …show more content…
In most cases, people believe the information that is readily available to them. So, no wonder most people think that GMOs are bad for them and the environment. A study on the public view and the scientific view of genetically modified organisms showed that “The American public remains divided on the issue of genetic modification. A 2014 Pew Research Center survey revealed that 57 % of 2002 respondents consider genetically modified organisms generally unsafe. In comparison, 88% of 3748 scientists consider GMOs generally safe” (Mintz 1). Usually, people hear something about a topic and that is it, what they hear is what they believe. Companies that produce food that are genetically modified and scientists that believe in the use of GMOs do not go out of their way to show the public the years of research that have gone into proving that genetically modified organisms are in fact safe for humans and the environment. Therefore, the companies who are against the use of genetically modified organisms, such as the Non-GMO Project, are the ones the public believe because they campaign on their ideas that GMOs are unsafe. It is the fault of stakeholders, such as Monsanto and General Mills, for the misconception of the public regarding genetically modified …show more content…
But, to combat this problem people, such as Bill Gates and Borut Bohanec (who are well versed in GMO knowledge and the real-world implications these organisms possess) have tried to spread their expertise on the topic through different platforms. In a conference with students and faculty at UC Berkeley, Bill Gates illustrates the good that can come from using genetically modified organisms such as GM seeds. Furthermore, he explains that GMOs have less of an environmental impact than is publicized. The use of these genetically modified seeds requires less insecticides and allows for more crop to be made on a plot of land without having to dig up more land for planting (“Bill Gates tackles controversy over genetically-modified crops at UC Berkeley.”). He even goes as far as to explain how his foundation uses these GM seeds to help feed and provide nutrition to people in Africa. Borut Bohanec explains in his TEDx Talk that the use of genetically modified rice as crops in places with high levels of phosphorus increased the yield of this healthy rice crop (“GMO controversies - science vs. public fear: Borut Bohanec at TEDxLjubljana”). Their research as well as the research conducted by world-wide environmental and human health organizations supports the facts that GMOs are not harmful to humans or the
Food is an essential part of everyday life without it one could not survive. Every day we make choices on what we put in to our bodies. There are countless varieties of food to choose from to meet the diverse tastes of the increasing population. Almost all food requires a label explaining the ingredients and the nutritional value allowing consumers to make informed decisions on what they are consuming. However, many may not be considering where that food is coming from or how it has been produced. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye. Since 1992, “ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled, based on woefully limited data, that genetically modified foods were ‘substantially equivalent’ to their non-GM counterparts” (Why to Support Labeling). GM food advocates have promised to create more nutritious food that will be able to grow in harsh climate conditions and eventually put an end to world hunger in anticipation of the growing population. There is very little evidence to support these claims and study after study has proven just the opposite. GM crops are not only unsafe to consume, but their growing practices are harmful to the environment, and multinational corporations are putting farmers out of business.
When you eat a cheeseburger, you might know that you are eating a beef patty with cheese, lettuce, and ketchup on a sesame seed bun, but do you know what you are really eating? According to the documentary GMO OMG, “approximately 85% of all processed foods contain GMOs”, yet most consumers are unaware that this secret ingredient is included in most of their food. Although Monsanto believes their product is safely feeding the world, consumers should be aware of the hidden horrors of genetically modified food because research indicates that GMOs could drastically affect their health as well as cause environmental damage, all while violating the rights of consumers and farmers.
Our attitudes toward GMO foods range from hostility to indifference. GMO foods, like pesticide-resistant Roundup Ready soybeans and fast-growing salmon, seem to exist primarily to pad corporate pockets. Most people are not aware that they are eating GMO foods. The greater percentage of the population is just looking at the price tag instead of what is in the food product. This technology has the potential to provide sustainable nutrient rich food sources throughout the ages if the science is not abused for the food industry’s
The most popular claim against crop biotechnology by its opponents are that GMO’s lack in depth scientific studies. For example; David Schubert of Salk Institute of Biological Studies states that “There is no credible evidence that GMO foods are safe to eat” and an organic researcher of Washington State University named Charles Benbrook informs that “The science just hasn...
Stop and think about your food before letting it enter your body. Is it safe? Is it good for me? Well, if you find yourself stuck in one of those situations where you can’t decide whether GM foods are good for you or bad, you’ve come to the right place. GM crops can be dangerous for you because the allergies it can give you. These GM crops are organisms that have been inserted with genes to make them look better for you, but remember, you can’t judge a book by its cover. These “delicious” looking crops can look like the best crops you ever laid eyes on, but on the inside it can cause you to get allergies that can cause you to rethink, is this really good for me? Research shows in the article, “GMOs and Genetically Modified Foods Risks and Dangers of GMOs”, that, “This can create an overproduction of allergens, toxins, carcinogens, or antinutrients.” This disseminates with clarity that GM crops can create many different allergens a...
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.
The belief that GMOs have a detrimental effect on world health has made its inclusion in our food
There tend to be two main viewpoints when considering genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The two groups include the pro-camp, which fully supports GMOs, and the anti-camp, which is completely against GMOs. Between the two groups, there are major differences of opinion, scientific studies are interpreted with distinct disparities, and the proposed long-term benefits are argued intensely. Due to the varied sentiments regarding GMOs, governments and consumers have been unable to agree on laws to regulate the research or the implementation of GMOs.
GMO 's provide us with the increased amounts of food that we need to feed an constantly growing population. As Nobel Prize laureate, Dr Norman E. Borlaug puts it: "There is no evidence to indicate that biotechnology is dangerous. After all, mother nature has been doing this kind of thing for God knows how long,". (Tervil Okoko, AgBioWorld) GMO 's have been around for far longer than people give them credit for – and in fact many of the foods we 've grown to love today like apples, bananas, grapes, and potatoes have all been modified for ease of human consumption. GMO 's reduce the amount of land needed in order to plant crops, as they produce crops of the same size with more yield than non-genetically engineered food. GMO 's allow for more nutritious, resilient, and better tasting food. There are currently no credible studies proving that the use of rDNA can lead to health defects in humans, and genetically engineered foods go through more rigorous testing than non-GMO 's. Contrary to the statistics, GMO 's are currently being developed to reduce pesticide use through intrinsic pest resistance – and a German study that was published on PLOS even concluded that “On average, GM technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmer profits by 68%” (Wilhelm Klümper & Matin Qaim, PLOS). GMO 's can even help us fight back against climate change, as it allows the creation of crops resistant to severe weather – like droughts, which California (one of the best sources for crops in the nation) is currently experiencing with no particular end date in sight. Additionally, because of the aforementioned factors, GMO 's can be used to fight back against world hunger. They 're produced in mass quality, are cheaper, and more durable than non-genetically modified foods – in short, they 're an incredibly
Recently, MIT Technology Review’s editor published an article about the future of GMO. To provide some context, GMOs are genetically modified organisms that are artificially altered using a process known as recombinant DNA technology. GMOs have faced a lot of controversy, mainly regarding the health implications of GMOs. Currently, plant scientists and startups have avoided creating new genetically modified crops, due to the large costs and long approval times for new crop modifications. As a result, large agricultural and chemical producers, such as Monsanto control basically the entire GMO market and turn it into a very lucrative business. The outcome of this situation is a scary amount of dependency on a handful of profit-oriented companies that genetically modify seeds to maximize profits, rather than to improve the well-being of the consumer.
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
How many of you hear the words “genetically modified food” and immediately think “BAD”? How many of you scorn the idea that genetically modified foods are useful? How many of you have been manipulated by the media to think that all biotechnology is evil? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically spliced to achieve a certain trait. As the demand for a larger food supply is increasing due to population growth, the benefits that GMO foods provide are being hailed as the only solution to the food crisis. However, many people are making inadequately informed decisions, and are pushing them to the back shelf. I will inform you on why genetically modified organisms may be the only way to a stable, safe future for the less fortunate.
Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe , but the U.S. supports it. The only reason GMOs exist is so that crops can be more resistant to pesticides, but the U.S. government blindly ignores the hundreds of other problems that they are continuously creating. Studies have shown that toxins and chemicals such as pesticides found in GMOs can cause “organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility” (“10 Reasons”). Toxic insecticide produced by genes
It is clear that the environment is a complex and diverse system that requires our careful attention as human beings, especially now in the 21st century, due to our great impact on it in ways never before seen. Because of the complexity and effect of the natural world on humans, and reciprocally the effect of humans on the environment, it is logical to ask about our actions in the environment. When we make decisions on this subject, we should not only observe the scientific or technological points of view on whether something can be done or not, but also consider the ethical points of view. Today a topic of debate for some years has been the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) or transgenic. According to the United Nations, GMOs are organisms
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.