Benefits Of Genetically Modified Organisms

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

With numerous developments plaguing agricultural production, the implementation of Genetically Modified Organisms, commonly referred to as GMOs, is best suited to be used in food manufacturing. It is estimated that by the year 2050, global food production must increase by seventy percent. However with current practices in place and the limited expansion of farmland due to urbanization, such production rates are nearly impossible to achieve. The use of Genetically Modified Organisms seems to be among the only feasible options to rapidly increase food production and thus aid in this crisis which plagues even though most developed countries, such as the United States. Specifically in the United States, the use of Genetically Modified Organism

Another contributing factor to the controversial nature of GMOs is the fact that a majority of the world does not consider such food products safe, since “ in more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs” (The Non-GMO). However, even though genetically engineered organisms are widely considered to be unsafe in many aspects, the U.S. government has little to no restrictions on the production and consumption of these products.

In an ever changing world, there are only a few things that are certain that all people need. It is said that a human can last three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three weeks without food. The typical American farmer in 2017 feeds about 155 people compared to the 25.8 people in 1960. The thought of genetically modified organisms is nothing more than just a regulatory muddle. Agriculture is such a widely conversed topic however, through extensive research, international experiments, and general education, it is clear that genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are safe on all aspects as well as necessary to continue to feed the people.

Although new label regulations, should relieve some fears, by year 2020, most GMOs will have appropriate labeling. There are institutions within the agricultural community that can help resolve the anxiety that oversees the mandatory regulations, which adhere to the reproduction and distribution of GMOs. The Department of Agriculture (DOA), inspects and normalizes safety concerns of growing of crops, whereas the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), lets us know if foods are safe to consume. One of the most controversial institutions is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), The EPA protects the environment. Propaganda or misinformation continues to effect the small farmer, allowing the Big Corporations to slip through the cracks on globally- agreed mandatory regulations, testing, and exporting. These processes are critical, and must have approval, whereas the monitoring and data, is preserved for future reference, clarifying “its main objective is to determine whether the GM crop is “substantially equivalent” to its non-GM varieties and whether it poses an allergen risk” (Norwood, Oltenacu, Lorenzo, & Lancaster, 2015, p.

Controversies and public concern surrounding GM foods and crops commonly focus on human and environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction and environmental conservation. (Bawa, 2012). Safety concerns for genetic engineering can cause various regulations intended to prevent environmental and health problems (Bawa, 2012). Concern from consumers has been expressed for GMOS because several agricultural practices, such as the widespread use of DDT in past decades, have caused serious problems that were unintended and unexpected (Old Citation: Brill, 1985).

Genetically Modified (GM) foods are found in almost every food sold in groceries stores all over the United States. They can be found in packaged to even fresh fruits and vegetables. According to the Institute for Responsible Technology GM, major commodity crops such as corn and soybeans have found to be 90% or more to have been raised by a GM seed (Smith 1). They are genetically modified for many different reasons whether it is for more nutrients, a larger size or removal of pesticides. The problematic issue is that some believe that GM foods are too expensive, they effect human health or it is toxic to the environment. Ultimately, GM crops

The belief that GMOs have a detrimental effect on world health has made its inclusion in our food supply one of the most talked about topics today. This reaction comes from an alarming body of evidence connecting them with health issues, environmental damage and the violation of farmer and consumers’ rights. (Non GMO Project.) This issue has created a growing concern throughout the world, prompting over sixty countries to ban them or pass stringent laws to label their presence in consumer products, especially food (Non GMO Project.)

Genetically modified organisms, otherwise known as GMOs, are a great danger to humanity. GMOs are genetically altered organisms engineered with the purpose to be resistant to dangerous pesticides, or to repel certain pests or certain viruses. The main purpose of them is to save farmers money when it comes to harvesting crops and cutting down labor costs. Overall, GMOs (also known as biotech or transgenic crops) are not safe and there are many reasons to prove it. First and foremost, GMOs pose a great risk to people’s health. GMOs are not natural. Scientists have developed these to help increase crop yields and profits for farmers and the companies selling the seeds and pesticides. They sacrifice people’s health at the expense of risks such as, humans developing allergies and possible resistance to antibiotics. Second, the environment will suffer greatly from GMOs by increasing the use of harmful herbicides. GMOs have insecticidal properties in their DNA. This on its own can be very harmful and poisonous to the ecosystem. The required herbicides used on GMOs to kill the weeds are also very dangerous to the environment. Lastly, GMOs cause great distress to organic agriculture. The organic agriculture is being compromised and abolished when GMOs come into contact with organic crops. While only a few big companies hoard the seed industry, this can be the demise of the planet’s organic agriculture. That will leave GMO companies in charge of the

On the one hand, many claim that GMOs are absolutely necessary for the continual well-being of the human race, as well as the Earth. GMOs could potentially have a monumentally positive affect on our environment, health, economy, and overall society. GMOs have been and can continue to be used to solve world hunger and malnutrition. Around 500,000 children go blind every year because of a Vitamin A deficiency. So, for example, a strain of rice has been developed that unlike normal rice, contains enough Vitamin A to keep children healthier. GMOs have helped feed more than 300 million Americans and a global population of 7 billion – of which 1 in 8 suffer from hunger and malnutrition. By 2050, the global population is expected to rise to 9 billion. Experts predict we will need 70% more agricultural production to keep pace – utilizing GM crops that

Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop useful products and is a technological application that uses living organisms or systems. There is much controversy in the use of these systems because of possible health and environmental effects. One of the most widely used products of biotechnology is genetically modified (GM) crops. These are crops that have a specific combination of genetic material that is acquired through certain biotechnological processes or genetic engineering. Many crops have been subject to these genetic modifications such as: alfalfa, cotton, flax, rice, tobacco, tomatoes, and wheat. Many people are on various sides of the spectrum of being for the alteration of these crops or strongly against it.

Out of the 61 countries of the world 40% consist of the world’s population have turned to labeling GMO products. United States and Canada are one of the few who do not have labeling mandatory. Genetically modified organisms are on the rise and countries are rapidly starting to make labeling mandatory. The reason being why Hawaii should make labeling mandatory is one GMO’s unsafe past in Hawaii and around the world. Two, GMO’s does not only stand as a risk to humans but threatens our environment. Lastly, we the people of Hawaii and United States of America have the right to know what is in our food that we are consuming. Due to the up rise of genetically modified organisms in Hawaii, the government should start taking action and make labeling GMO foods mandatory.

With the increased amount of publicity, genetically modified organisms have recently been under harsh scrutiny and criticism. Consumers around the world are concerned whether or not consuming these newly modified organisms have any long term or short term health effects. “An exhaustive new study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, found “no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered (GE) crops and conventionally bred crops,”(Hall). This experiment showed that there are no alarming effects for consumers to worry about when consuming genetically modified crops. Genetically modified crops have been consumed for over twenty years now without causing any increase in health problem in the populations that consume them. These products are some of the most tested and safest agriculture products out there today. All of the testing done on genetically modified crops and their safety is monitored by the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration(FDA). Across the board with so many different agencies committed to reviewing testing of GMOs these products and organisms are undoubtedly safe

Now, the people in Western countries most affected by the infiltration of GMOs into the agricultural sector are the direct consumers of the GMO seeds and crops: farmers. Initially, farmers were forced to sign a legal agreement with Monsanto prohibiting them from saving some of the GE seeds for the next crop season (The World…). In order to enforce this, Monsanto made sure to obtain the rights, written into the contracts, to inspect and monitor the farmers’ fields; this led to many lawsuits against farmers (Mattera). Ultimately, due to the lack of labeling laws outlining the ingredients and processes used to cultivate GMO crops and the strict control of farm production, a group of U.S. and French farmers filed a lawsuit against Monsanto in 2000. They sued Monsanto for not fully disclosing the safety of seed use and

As stated in a case study completed in early 2011, “No consensus on the applied ERA (environmental risk assessment), let alone agreed standardized testing procedure exists.” Later on in the same study, it is concluded that, “In our view, this is not science based, lacks the required precaution and entirely puts the discovery of any potential adverse interaction, cumulative, indirect and long-term effect of … human and animal health and the environment in the marketing phase, i.e. the farmer and consumer.” There have been agreements on the international level that address the uncertainty of GMOs and have adapted the Precautionary Principle, allowing the government to take action should the people be at risk of any harm from genetically modified organism. For the most part, this Precautionary Principle is translucent in its regulations and does not address the main issues that come with implementing GMOs, especially in developing and borderline developed countries. Taking this upon themselves, the rise of organic and GMO-free farming practices have become apparent in towns and as gardening techniques for home-grown vegetables.