“China has rejected 545,000 tons of U.S. corn imports after an unapproved genetically modified strain (MIR162) was discovered among the crops, -hinting at a growing problem (Tiezzi).” Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are becoming more incorporated with our crops every day. Although some may only see the benefits of being able to produce an insect-resistance/herbicide-resistant crop, the big corporations, others can see the long term effects that GMOs present. GMOs should be eradicated and no longer be able to be created. They pose a threat to the crops, our health, and the effects that they may cause are only hypothesized; the full impact is not known. The crops of genetically modified organisms pose a risk to organic and local crops and their use does not increase higher yields. Many of these seeds are being modified to produce an insect-resistance /herbicide-resistant crop. These crops, while they may help the farmer, they are producing super weeds which are becoming resistant to these chemicals, this in turn, is calling for heavier strengths of chemicals which then erode the soil and causes more harm than good. “As many scientists and advocates predicted, the repeated and widespread use of glyphosate has resulted in resistance by a growing number of weeds (Kaplan).” The use of pesticides being genetically engineered is creating a type of weed that will soon be able to withstand the harshest chemical, which maybe, one day may not be able to be eradicated. Furthermore, the use of these chemicals does not lead to higher crop yields. According to Fernandez-Cornejo , “Despite the rapid adoption of herbicide-tolerant soybeans, there was little impact on net farm returns in 1997 and 1998”(36). The article went on to say that m... ... middle of paper ... ...tions/eib-economic-information-bulletin/eib11.aspx Godheja, Jai. "Impact Of GMO's On Environment And Human Health." Recent Research In Science & Technology 5.5 (2013): 26-29. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 Dec. 2013. Kaplan, Johnathan. "Farmers aren’t the only ones who should be concerned about “superweeds” and the diminishing potency of a popular herbicide." Switchboard 07 May 2010, n. pag. Web. 23 Dec. 2013. . Mellon, Margaret, and Jane Rissler. Gone to Seed. Cambridge, MA 02238-9105: 2004. 39. eBook. . Tiezzi, Shannon. "The Latest Threat to China-US Relations: GMOs." Diplomat [Asia-Pacific] 21 DEC 2013, n. pag. Print. .
"The Good, Bad and Ugly about GMOs." Natural Revolution. Natural Revolution , n.d. Web. 16 May 2014. .
The advent of genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant crops has not only maintained but has greatly expanded Monsanto’s market share in the realm of agribusiness. Since Roundup-Ready seeds are only resistant to the broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup, Monsanto sells a season’s worth of weed killer along with every Roundup Ready seed sale (Arax and Brokaw, 1997).
The first claim, made by the bioengineering companies creating the GMOs, is that the products are "resistan[t] to insects or viruses, toleran[t] [of] certain herbicides and [have] nutritionally enhanced quality" (Maghari 2). With resistance against pests and tolerance to harsher pesticides, bioengineers claim to be creating a super food that requires less maintenance and costs less. In fact, for many developing countries, this seems a promising start to the end of w...
If you read the paper or watch the news, you’re undoubtedly aware of the debate raging over genetically modified food. Is it bad or is it good? Between the feuding sides, you might find yourself a little lost and wondering which side is right. Answers to seemingly simple questions have been blurred or exaggerated by both sides. On one side genetically modified food is more sustainable, safe, cheaper, easier to grow and has the potential of creating disease-fighting foods. Although this is positive and good intentioned, there may be unintended consequences that we have been quick to overlook. Those opposing genetically modified food clam that it is dangerous, harms the environment, increases health risks, and causes infertility and weight gain. Even things like the declining bee population may have closer ties to modified food than previously thought. We must look to science for answers. By studying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) we can guide our decision about whether we want to be consuming them.
Whitman, Deborah. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?". Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Available online at http://www.csa.com/hottopics/gmfood/overview.html. Accessed November 9, 2003.
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.
Smith, Daniel P. "What to Know about GMOs." QSR Magazine Oct. 2013: n. pag. Web. 11 Mar. 2014. .
The growing controversy over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have left many Americans and people all around the world with various questions and concerns as to what they are really putting into their bodies. The issue at hand is one that, although is very dominant in the world today, many are still uneducated on the problem and have not been informed with the facts. GMOs have been placed in the world without much question or second thought and it is time that America hear what should have been told many years ago. Although over ninety percent of the food eaten everyday has been genetically modified in the United States, many today believe the food they eat everyday is perfectly healthy, safe, and beneficiary for them. On the contrary, however, others will argue that the food has become poisoned, unsanitary, and detrimental to the health of themselves and others due to the ongoing issue of genetically engineered foods. As food production grows, and more suspicions rise to the surface, many people are left with the begging question, “Are GMOs really bad for us?” Everyone one is entitled to his or her own opinion and there are many out there who would like to believe one side or another. Regardless of who believes what, after the research is conducted, in hopes of accumulating a better understanding of the issue, it will be known what genetically modified organisms really are, where genetically mutated crops originate from and whether genetically modifying crops are harming or benefiting the world.
According to Approximately, 53% of the crops are engineered for herbicide tolerance, with another 33% for stacked traits, usually including herbicide tolerance. 14% are insect resistant using the Bt trait. Bacillus thurengiensis (Bt) is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein, which are toxic to many species of insects. GM crops and their associated herbicides can harm birds, insects, amphibians, marine ecosystems, and soil organisms. They are reducing biodiversity, polluting water resources, and are making environments unsustainable for wildlife. A study published in Nature, one of the world’s leading scientific journals, has announced that Bt corn has contaminated indigenous varieties of corn tested in Oaxaca, Mexico. it was found that Bt corn destroyed the larvae of the monarch butterfly, raising well-grounded fears that many other natural plant and animal life may be impacted in the same way. It has been shown, however, that insects are fast developing resistance to Bt as well as to herbicides, resulting in even more massive infestation by the new superbugs. Despite GMOs crops being modified to be insect and herbicide resistant which increase our food supply nevertheless the modification done is harmful toward the
In a feeble attempt to cure world hunger scientists developed GMOs, or 'genetically-modified organisms', which are genetically enhanced crop plants created for human consumption, and although GMOs were initially designed to benefit the world, it appears as though they are doing as much harm as they are good. Originally, GMOs were designed to c...
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.
GMOs, when utilized correctly make food easier to grow, creates a larger output of meat products as well as create crops resistant to pests and disease. GM crops have become easily grown and spread across the world because of their adapted nature, enabling certain crops to grow in regions they simply couldn’t before. In this way many farmers have become heavily dependant on GMOs to keep up with the increasing standards in production and also to be able to continue growing their crops in a cost-effective manner. This different way of farming has been good for farmers by creating these new organisms already resistant to the cold and the ability to keep insects away. In turn this keeps expenses down and could potentially reduce the amount of chemicals we put out into the atmosphere. However, at the moment more chemicals are being placed over GM crops than were previously used. This is because of the crops ability to withstand direct contact of chemicals that would normally be harmful to it. This increase in insecticides over the crops is due to the farmers wanting to keep their produce pest-free. The bottom line is that farmers depend on GM crops and need them to continue making a living in our rapidly changing
“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.
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.
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.