Genetically Engineered Crops Essays

| Monsanto continues to grow with future acquisitions of other companies in the industry (i.e. Asgrow Agronomics, Holden’s Foundation Seeds, Corn States Hybrid Service, and DeKalb Genetics Corp.).- Monsanto expands its production of genetically modified seed products which are herbicide tolerant. These include, “Roundup Ready Canola,” “Roundup Ready Cotton,” and “Roundup Ready Corn.”- Monsanto is also the first company to introduce a dual genetically engineered seed with protection from both insects and herbicides (cotton and corn seeds).

They did so by adding a strand of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the cotton’s deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)(Genetically Engineered). Monsanto’s most valuable consumer of Bt cotton is China. Even though Bt cotton is expensive, it still has lowered China’s cotton production fees by 14%. Before Bt cotton, Bollworms were capable of eating entire cotton crops, which also affected China’s textile industry. (“Genetically Engineered”). This is only one example of how GMOs can reduce pesticide use, and make crops available to countries who struggle with pests and do not have the monetary capability to purchase pesticide and herbicide.

Genetically modified crops are being developed to produce their own pesticide. This will bring the rapid appearance of resistant insects. Even worse, these pesticide producing plants have killed some beneficial insects and pests that many farmers use in their crops. For example, inserting a gene from a snowdrop, a perennial herb found in Europe and Asia into a potato, made the potato resistant to the green fly, but killed lady bugs that feed on green flies.

Primarily, genetically engineered crops result in countless long-term, detrimental impacts on the environment. As the United States becomes increasingly dependent on such crops for a majority of its food supply, these harmful environmental impacts are becoming evident. Many GMO crops are modified to be herbicide-resistant, such as the Roundup Ready crop, which allows farmers to spray herbicides without causing damage to the plants. While the ridding of weeds increases the level of production for these farmers, their total elimination greatly interferes with the natural interdependency of the ecosystem. One impacted species includes the Monarch butterfly, as its population decline has been directly linked to the use of genetically engineered crops. The weeds being eliminated include the

It has allowed farmers to reduce the use of insecticides, which benefits the environment as well as their own personal health, by not having to apply as many chemicals to the plants. The effectiveness of insecticides was decreasing due to the fact that the European corn borers were still forming tunnels in the stalk, making this chemical useless and lowering crop yields. Farmers are now seeing an economic increase in profits, as they do not have to spend as much money on insecticides. There has been a major decrease in use of insecticide of about 35% from 1996-2008 (R. Hellmich and K. Hellmich). The reduced use of insecticide has also improved grain quality and the percent yield per crop. Another benefit is that mold, specifically Aspergillus and Fusarium, was unable to form due to the lack of insect damage (Suszkiw). This poses as a benefit to consumers as well, because these fungi no longer produce mycotoxins, which poisoned crops, decreased production, and were linked to cancer and organ damage in humans (Huesing and English). Fumonisin, a kind of mycotoxin, levels are now 90 times lower in Bt corn (Huesing and English). With the decrease in mycotoxin, farmers annually save over 23 million dollars (R. Hellmich and K. Hellmich). Farmers have also benefited from a decrease in labor costs due to less chemical spraying and land tillage. Bt corn has allowed farmers to have higher growing

Local farmers ' organic crops can suffer from exposure to GMO seeds due to environmental elements such as wind that can transpose seeds, which ruins the natural element within the organic crop. Aside from this occurrence, when GMO seeds become too resistant to herbicides such as RoundUp Ready, an increase use of pesticides is needed to prevent insects from contaminating the product. (Indiana Journal...Brush). According to OCA, "RoundUp can be three times more toxic than pure glyphosate,"

Biotechnology provides farmers with tools that can make production cheaper and more manageable. For example, some biotechnology crops can be engineered to tolerate specific herbicides, which make weed control simpler and more efficient. Other crops have been engineered to be resistant to specific plant diseases and insect pests, which can make pest control more reliable and effective, and/or can decrease the use of synthetic pesticides. These crop production options can help countries keep pace with demands for food while reducing production costs. The USDA also mentions the fact that they are still trying to discover new methods to help the U.S. Often people worry about the negative rumors of what happens to crops when Genetically engineered plants are being grown. Genetically engineered plants are also being developed for a purpose known as phytoremediation in which the plants detoxify pollutants in the soil or absorb and accumulate polluting substances out of the soil so that the plants may be harvested and disposed of safely. In either case the result is improved soil quality at a polluted site. Biotechnology may also be used to conserve natural resources, enable animals to more effectively use nutrients present in feed, decrease nutrient runoff into rivers and bays, and help meet the increasing world food and land demands. Researchers are at work to produce hardier crops that will flourish in even the harshest environments and

For example, increase Bt use leads to decrease pesticide use, increase in crop yield, and substantial decrease in the risk on human health and the environment (Raybould, 2010). Wide adoption of Bt crops have also led to improved production, yields and profits.

The genetically modified crops disrupt natural environmental ecosystems present in the soil. This means that once the soil is infected with menacing GMOs and synthetic internal-pesticides such as glyphosate, the damages are irreversible

Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist, a states that in underdeveloped countries, incorrect pesticide use leads to around 300,000 deaths. If the insecticide is put into the plant, like it can be with GMOs, than the use of insecticides will decrease dramatically. Around 40% of craps are lost because of disease and insects (Ronald). It is clearly evident that with insecticide use, GMOs have a potential to save many lives if used in the correct way. Scientists are very concerned however because as Piette mentions, insects are becoming more resistant to the insecticides being used, as a result of 24 times the recommended amount is being used in some cases (96). Scientists are concerned because if this cycle of overusing pesticides continues, a new solution will need to be found as insects will become completely resistant to the pesticides. Currently, there are GMO products that are contributing to this potentially damaging cycle of pesticide use. Resnik states that Roundup crops are those that are resistant to Roundup. As a result of this, farmers can use more Roundup, knowing that their plants won't die but the weeds around them will. This could result in negative effects on nearby plants and possibly the environment (111-112). Not only is this seen in Roundup crops, it is also seen in other types of genetically modified crops. Mike Gibney, the

Monsanto Company can administer the possible damage to plant and animal life from the use of these products like Roundup, as follows. Monsanto Company can act in the solution of problems related to the

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

There are a multitude of studies addressing concerns about pesticide control methods such as genetically engineering Bt maize and its role in pest control. Beyond embedded chemicals, there are also concerns with external pesticide use and the stress that it puts on native pollinators. Herbicide resistance presents a different potential problem in the form of destroying a native habitat for the pollinators. Finally another issue that arose was the vast growth of agricultural land use and human expansion contributing to climate change and loss of habitat for monarchs and other

Many varieties of genetically engineered crops have been designed to decrease the need for chemicals, particularly pesticides. Herbicide-tolerant varieties are among the most widely used type of genetically-modified crop, which enables farmers to use a single herbicide to eradicate weeds rather than rely on a cocktail of pesticides and herbicides. Eliminating weeds in this fashion also decreases the need for soil tillage, which can negatively impact soil ecology. (Ford,

Companies and researchers alternate the genetic structure of crops to withstand pesticides, non-GM weeds and insects can gradually develop a resistance to the chemicals. At this point farmers actually have to increase their use of pesticides. These practice causes weed populations to adapt to the herbicide and eventually become resistant to it. Once these superweeds emerge farmers must find a new herbicides and more potent products.