Is the production of Genetically Modified (GM) foods a solution to the food crisis or a disaster in the making? Genetically modified crops are crops that are created using genetic engineering methods i.e. the manipulation of genes in plants and crops to obtain a new generation of crops that have the most desirable traits. The genetic modification of crops comes with both advantages and disadvantages. The advantages being: 1) Crops are more productive and can produce higher yields than normal crops as they are disease and virus resistant. 2) GM crops can be freeze tolerant and drought resistant. This allows for plants and crops to grow and survive in harsh environments where normal crops wouldn’t be able to grow such as stone tomatoes and bush beans which are drought resistant and some potato and tobacco plants which contain a cold tolerance anti- freeze gene from a cold water fish and can help the plant to survive in extremely cold, frosty conditions. 3) GM crops are pest resistant and herbicide resistant (farmers can use weed killers to kill weeds surrounding the GM crops and this will not kill the GM crop thus also increasing the yield of the crops). 4) The higher yields due to the crops being disease, virus, drought, pest and herbicide resistant decreases the demand for the crops (increased availability) which in turn …show more content…
This labelling requirement is further imposed and highlighted under the Consumer Protection Act. This act states that if food products have a GM content of at least 5% it must indicate “contains GMO’s” on the packaging. There is also the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) to protect South Africa’s biodiversity and ecosystems from potential GM activity
Agronomists have been working on these problems for years, but the rapid population growth of humans makes overcoming these challenges increasingly urgent. If we can’t feed the world, it will eventually feed on us.” (Newsweek/United Nations) Scientists find a way to add “medicine” to plant genes, which help it withstands pest attacks and drought problems.“Some GMO corn crops can protect harvests in water-limited conditions better than conventionally produced crops. Other GMOs can also promote use of no-till farming, which keeps more moisture in the soil. No-till also enables farmers to make fewer passes through the field using machinery, which means less fuel used and greenhouse gases emitted.”(Monsanto) GMOs are useful for helping with planting crops in any area of the world.
b. GM Foods are made because they are lower susceptibility to disease, drought, and pests.
Last but not least, Whitman (2000) also states genetically modified crops are more economical especially to farmers in third world countries because they have higher crop yields in lesser time enabling them to satisfy the high demand for food. Genetically modified crops also take up very little land to grow improving profits for farmers. Because they grow in such short time, the demand for more food in starving countries is more easily satisfied at a lower cost.
Genetically modified crops are an incredibly important issue that everyone should be aware of since it is something we are exposed to at a daily basis. Genetically modified crops also known as GM crops or Biotech crops has been one of the most heated debates of issues within our society. The debate about the safety, concerns and disadvantages of GM crops have raged since the mid 1990 's but this is due to the lack of knowledge of the general public. Many people are unaware of what the GM crops actually are and what they offer. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in the agriculture and have been modified to initiate a new trait to plants that does not happen naturally in the species. These plants are modified using genetic engineering techniques to enhance desired traits. GM crops are made when genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another.() There are many methods used for the production of GM crops but the two primary used for plant insertion are gene guns and agrobacterium tumefaciens. There are also three types of modifications which are transgenic, cisgenic, and subgenic plants. However, there are a number of issues that surround this controversial topic such as environmental, health, and economic concerns. Even though there are some worrying facts about GM crops people don 't realize the advantages or the ways it has helped humans as well as animals. There are many reasons why GM crops are proven
One of the major reasons for the use of GMOs was stated by Chris Black, a plant science major and owner of Richland Plant Food Company. When Mr. Black was asked the question, “Why do farmers now use GMOs when growing crops”, he said “It really helps the everyday farmer with economics and efficiency. Since the US population is always increasing, GMOs have made a cheaper food source to the American Market.” Mr. Black also stated that “It also helps farmers save thousands of dollars in insecticide and herbicide cost that can become overwhelming, because many of the GMO seeds now have this trait. Plus Genetically Engineered crops are more environmentally friendly than organic crops, because they require less water than organic
Eveyone of us and our children are affected by the use of GMO food products and they have a dangerous side effect on our enviroment that in some cases will never be repaired.
The term GM food are most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Genetically modified plants have been widely publicised as the future in agriculture. Many believe that it may help improve crop harvests and farm productivity by developing genetically modified crops that can either resist pests or chemicals. But despite the promise that GM crops may offer, there are still doubts that linger among a number of people as well.
The capability to withstand water shortages and the havoc caused by the harvest passes makes the plants to mature early with its productivity level being high. Regions suffering from food shortages can only undergo starvation for short period before it can start to enjoy the food. On the other hand, the abovementioned advantages make farmers engage in profitable farming business with the low level of costs of farm inputs and high outputs. This aspect benefits not only the farmers but also the population that stands to enjoy a large variety of food stuff at their disposal.
While scientist experiments are increased nutritional benefits or productivity, this two main traits have been added to date are herbicide tolerance and the ability of the plant to produce its own pesticide.Which results in no health benefit, only economic benefit. Vaccines, proteins and other pharmaceutical has been developed because of the use of molecular biology and which was a success. Scientist discoveries led to GMOs farmers to increase the use of weed killers while decreasing the use of pest
engineered crops. Are GMO’s really going to end the world hunger or is that just a phrase that a
One of the biggest advantages of agricultural biotechnology lies in its economic efficiency. GM crops are financially beneficial to both the farmer and the consumer. Due to their resistance to pests, viruses, and adverse climates, genetically altered crops produce much larger yields than organic or conventional crops. For example, studies show that if no insecticide is used, a GM crop known as Bt maize has a 48% higher yield than non-modified maize varieties
Pros for genetically modified plants are good use in productions in are arguculture. GM will allow are fields and crops to formally produce more products to help feed more people. GM products also allows a longer shelf life in its products. Genetically modified plants also reduces the need of for pesticides and herbicides which is a form of insect repellents. The reduction of pesticides and herbicides will allow us as human beings to stop the Potential effects include cancer and the damage to the nervous, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Another pro for genetically modified plants would be that the tecnology of GM will allow the plant to stand weather conditions so farmers wont loose there crops due to tempertures of different seasons.
When farmers use regular seeds, they have a lot to worry about when it comes to herbicides, weeds and insects. They must use chemicals to maintain these issues which hurt the profits of the farmers. When GM Seeds were introduced to the market, farmers started using these seeds because of the benefits they provided. The seeds are made to have a tolerance to herbicides and insects, so this helps them maintain their crops without using any chemicals. This increases the profits of both the farmer and companies who sell the GM seeds. Also, the seeds are made to prevent weeds from harming their growth which makes it simpler to maintain. This means it takes
Advantages and Problems of Genetically Modified Agricultural Crops Genetically Modified food (GM) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption, using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Genetic engineering can create plants with the extract desired trait, both accurately and rapidly. For example frost can destroy sensitive seedlings, an antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced to plants such as tobacco and potatoes, and with this anti freeze gene these plants are able to tolerate the
GMO foods are not the most healthy or honest foods, but they are the most helpful. Many fruits and vegetables are engineered to be resistant to bugs and diseases that could cause famine. This helps farmers all over the country by giving them a better harvest. Also, non-sanitary soil has become a large problem in some places around the world. The soil made it harder for crops to grow in certain environments. To solve this problem, scientists could take a gene from a plant that can live in these conditions, and plant it into another crop’s genome. This would make the crop that