Effects Of Genetically Modified Foods On Health And The Environment

Genetically modified foods can be good and bad for humans and the economy. For example, if you do not cook an genetically modify foods it can cause us humans to become deathly ill. If the soil is not treated before the genetically modified seed is placed into the ground it can damage the soil and the earth around it.

While the agricultural world is working hard to make positive influences on more efficient farming, individuals have treated GMO’s as a negative alteration in their produce. Farmers and researchers in the agricultural world claim no harm can be done by them. GMO’s have not yet been proven to be harmful to humans and have, in fac,t had a positive impact on the food industry today.

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

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.” – Ursula K. Le Guin. No matter what good some people believe they are doing, everything seems to come with a consequence, and the question is whether or not the good overpowers the bad. Many experts argue that Genetically Modified foods are actually beneficial to, not only people, but animals, plants, and the world overall. Some experts even state that, not only are they beneficial, but that they also protect the environment and aid food productivity. Most farmers actually recommend GMO’s because they are easier to grow, maintain, and tend to be more profitable; however, countless other experts have come to realize that GMO foods are untested, unsafe, and unhealthy. Studies indicate that

Although it is safe to say that GMOs do hurt human life and the environment, it is also necessary to acknowledge the pros in having genetically modified foods. It is believed that farmers would be able to spend less money producing more food organically because of GMOs. The cost of the technology used in plowing fields would drop drastically if crops were to be modified. Likewise, farmers would have bigger yields to land and be able to use less herbicides and

As with anything in nature, modifying an organism’s intended or natural use can either bring beneficial uses or harmful ones. Monsanto has led the industry for genetically modified seeds, and because of this, is held under much scrutiny for what good or bad they may bring to society. The benefits of growing GMO seed are, on the surface, pretty obvious. They allow farmers to grow bigger and more stable crops, as resistance to insects and weeds plays a pivotal role in the yield farmers see each season. Furthermore, GMO seed can help areas that typically struggle to produce a harvest, such as Africa. Conner, Glare and Nap (Conner, T., & Nap, 2003) note that “the risk of not using GM crops, particularly in relation to developing countries where the technology may have most to offer, should be considered.” (pg.

Through scientific research there have been no substantial findings of harmful side effects on eating foods that have been genetically modified. In his article,” National Academy of Sciences Report on GMOs”, Steven Novella states that “It is especially compelling that over the last two decades, animals and humans exposed to GMOs have not experienced any relative increase in any major disease” (Novella). With over 20 years of observations and conclusions, there has been no evidence to support the argument that GMOs are harmful to humans or animals. Furthermore, Alan McHughen, in his article, “A Path Forward”, says “Every major scientific body in the U.S. and around the world has reviewed independent research related to GM crops and food and has concluded they are as safe as food and crops developed from other methods in use today” (McHughen). Thousands of reports and findings

“Growing GM foods…can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides and reduce the cost of bringing a crop to market.” (Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?) Every year, farmers lose crops as a result of insects and other pests. These loses require farmers to utilize pesticides when growing crops to ensure production. There have been more and more health risks discovered from the consumption of foods treated with these chemicals.

A growing debate today is the effect of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, on our health and the stability of the environment. Emily Anthes, a journalist who mainly writes about current issues in science, posted an article on the New York Times titled “Don 't be Afraid of Genetic Modification”. In the article, Anthes presents a few examples of genetically modified animals that have been considered for consumption and the obstacles that the biotech companies who created them face. Anthes is discussing a very prevalent topic here. GMOs are here to stay, and it is important for people to understand what a GMO actually is.

A report, Genetically Engineered Crops: Past Experience and Future Prospects written by the Academics’ study committee was created to answer some of the most controversial questions involved with genetically modified organisms. This report took a scientific view point of the subject of genetically engineered crops. The committee’s first order of business was to research the effect of genetically modified organisms on agriculture and the environment. This study included the research of insecticide and herbicide use, insect and weed resistance, and crop yield. The study concluded “no conclusive evidence of cause-and-effect relationships between Genetically Engineered crops and environmental problems”. In addition, the study did prove that insects and weeds are developing a stronger resistance to the Genetically Engineered crops. The data also revealed that this insect and weed resistant positively impacted crop yield. This means that farmers have to spray less chemicals, which is cheaper, and also healthier for the Earth. Because GM’s resist insects and weeds, harvests lose less crops, which means more crops can be produced, which is important when trying to feed the world.

“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.

With progress in genetic engineering, farmers and scientists have changed the way in which food is grown and made, raising questions about these methods and their possible risks and effects. What is clear is that there is not enough information on the consequences of genetically modified foods on human health as of yet. Furthermore no agreement among the scientific community has been reached on the risks or safety of this technology, although it seems to possess wide, uncertain and, potentially dangerous implications for human health, which are inextricably linked to moral/ethical concerns.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to exceed over 9 billion people, and the existing amount of usable land is expected to decrease significantly due to climate changes and urbanization. The projected rise in population and food consumption per person, particularly in countries like China and India, make efficient land use a necessary solution for long term plans. According to USDA, a 10% change to a genetically modified herbicide tolerant crop would yield around 1.7% increase in productivity. Biotechnology companies are confident that such crops will most definitely improve the live hood of farmers around the world. What exactly are Genetically modified crops? People always wonder about the effects of genetically modified foods. GMO is food that contains foreign genes from other organisms in its genetic code and its purpose is to speed up the process of selective breeding and introduce new nutrients and vitamins to enrich foods. The process of genetic engineering began in 1994 and since then has been used primarily on cash crops with high demand such as soybean, corn and canola. Most scientists believe that GMOs are not only safe but also beneficial due to the positive effect on many world economies, the environmental benefits, the improvement in nutritional values and the fact that there is no proof of harmful effects.

Firstly, genetically modified foods stir up a lot of concern about their potential health impacts. Namely, they may be the cause of new allergens in our food supply, increase our exposure to pesticides or interfere with our health in ways that cannot be predicted yet in the long term.

According to the World Health Organization (2014. 1), "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called 'modern biotechnology ' or 'gene technology ', sometimes also 'recombinant DNA technology ' or 'genetic engineering '. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.” Many organic crops farming farmers are against cultivating of GM crops because of the threat to farm land and environment however, biotechnology companies and GM crops growing famer desire to have profit and consumer look for low price. Thus, the debate over the environmental impact of genetically modified GM crops is growing. Although GM crops negatively affects on some organism in environment, they reduce the use of pesticides and increase crop yield.