Genetically Modified Organisms And Food Benefulation

“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man,” George Washington. Agriculture has been around for 12,000, this changed the lifestyle of people from hunting and gathering to permanent settlements with a steady food source (“Development of Agriculture”). From this, civilizations and cities grew, food could now be grown to meet the demands of the ever growing global populations. Since the development of agriculture advancement has been made to feed the population. One of the many modern advancements has been genetically modified organisms. Genetically Modified Organism, is the results of a laboratory process, where genes from the DNA of one of the species are extracted, and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. Some of the unanswered questions about GMO’s have been what they are, companies that are involved,

Producers have been manipulating DNA in the reproduction of their products before Gregor Mendel founded the modern understanding of genetics. Thus, genetically modified organisms -GMOs- are simply more advanced hybrids. The World Health organization defines GMOs as organisms in which their genetic information has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally (Blair, 2015). The controversy regarding genetically modified organisms has been prevalent not only in the agricultural community, but academic conversation as well. Although many organizations and individuals claim genetically modified organisms are malicious to human health as well as the environment, they are indeed the basis for healthy, sustainable agriculture that not only provide a quality product for the consumer, but a safe and nutritious product as well.

Back then, farmers relied solely on the plot of soil they owned to produce fruits and vegetables. Farmers often had to deal with the threat of damaged crops from weather changes and insect pests. However, imagine being able to not increase productivity and protecting crops being ruined or eaten. Now, with advancements in technology and genetics, scientists can genetically modify organisms by altering its DNA in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination to introduce desired physiological traits (EFFL 235). In 2000, 68% of all genetically modified, GM, crops were grown by U.S. farmers, with soybeans and corn making up 82% of all GM crops harvested in 2000 (Whitman 5). According to the European Food & Feed Law Review, scientists may transfer simple genes from the DNA from one organism into another, and also between non- related species, such as animals, bacteria, and virus to enhance desired traits (4). The use of genetic engineering was first introduced to aid farmers in an alternative other than using pesticides. Soon after, enhanced traits that improve nutrition were inputted into plants to increase nutritional value. Although the genetic engineering of GM food may create superweeds, GM food should be encouraged since it decreases the need for pesticides, increases food supply, and improves the nutrition of food.

The discussion of genetically modified organisms (or GMOs) can cause quite a heated debate. GMOs are created by a process called genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification. During this laboratory process, the DNA of one species is removed and then added to the genetic makeup of another species (Smith, GMO Education). GMOs can increase yield, produce herbicide/insecticide tolerant crops, and in some instances have benefited third world countries immensely, but GMOs still remain to be questioned for their health and environmental effects which are global priorities. Global concerns include super weeds, environmental health, and long-term human health effects.

As modern society shifts towards healthier alternatives to french fries and hot dogs, practices in the food industry that were once acceptable have begun to come under public scrutiny. Out of these issues, none are more controversial than the use of GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms. Since its first use in 1973, genetic modification has been applied to almost every crop imaginable. Countless fields of beans, rice, and corn have become subject to genetic modification as more and more farmers begin to realize the benefits of growing “super” plants. With so little drawbacks and so many advantages, it is easy to see why GMOs are as widespread as they are in today’s society.

There is a great debate going on right now on the subject of genetically modified foods, or GMOs. For some, the idea of GMO food is a good one because the modifications allow crops to become resistant to drought and infestations, letting more people have more regular meals. Some research even shows that the world produces 17% more food than it needs to produce to provide each current human with three squares per day (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013)! Others look at genetically modified foods as a dangerous proposition. From allergic reactions to potential intestinal damage, many people wish to avoid GMO foods because of animal studies that have shown changes in internal cell structure, abnormal tumor growth, and unexpected deaths that have occurred (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013). By 2050, farmers must produce 40% more food to feed an estimated 9 billion people on the planet. Either current yields will have to increase or farmland will expand farther into forests and jungles. In some cases, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would offer an alternative way to boost yields without sacrificing more land or using more pesticides (Maxmen, 2013).

The idea of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been around since centuries ago. People of those times have cross-bred plants and animals to create much improved organisms; organisms that were resistant to pests and better protected from the natural elements like extreme heat and cold. Organisms which were created that could produce more food, milk, and wool, for human survival, or organisms that had enhanced aesthetic appeal over their predecessors. However, this older process took a while to complete, sometimes taking as long as fifteen years. With the advent of molecular biology, humans were now able to introduce desired genes from one organism into another, speeding up the process. This process is known as genetic engineering. Any organism that has been genetically modified by this process is known as GMOs (Key, Ma, & Drake, 2008). In 1994, the first GMO was produced in the United States – a tomato with a longer shelf life than its original counterpart. Since then, many other GMOs have been produced, and with them, came great benefits to man. Yet, with these benefits came great controversy and opposition (Day, 1996). This paper will

The production of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) simply involves laboratory modification of food products, by altering their genes such that a desirable trait is obtained. GMOs are also known as genetically engineered-, bio-engineered-, biotech crops, or transgenic organisms. In today’s America, food produced through genetic modification can be found in almost all forms of edibles from Snack boxes Cereals, livestock, and even fruits. In 2003, the Grocery Manufacturers Association estimated that GMOs were present in at least 70% to 75% of conventional processed food on supermarket shelves. This staggering statistics was supported by a 2011 USDA document which showed a whopping 88% of U.S. corn, 94% of soy, 95% of sugar beets, 90% of canola

GMO’s or genetically modified organisms are living organisms such as fruits or vegetables whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering, this often includes inserting genetic material from another organism of a different species. The use of GMO’s is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States although long-term studies of their effects have yet to be done. The production of GMO’s is dangerous, the modifying traits of a specific plant for consumption for the benefit of production and business is unnatural. Although the use of GMO’s has increased production and lowered costs for some foods, the long-term effects are dangerous to not only the consumer but also the environment. Some have even said that “the environmental and health risks outweigh the benefits” (Beckrich).

As human beings, we rely on food every day, and without it we wouldn’t be able to function properly. Over the decades, with our fast pace advances in production and new technology we are able to produce large quantities of food with Genetically Modified Organisms. GM foods are produced because of the idea that consumers and producers both have an advantage to obtaining these products. For Example, GM products hold many benefits, from nutritional value to durability against environment. GM productions were concentrated mostly on producers to benefit the farmers in their products by aiming to increase the crop protection and resistance to plant diseases or viruses. Considering these new advances; consumers, farmers and policymakers worldwide are challenged to reach consent with a clear vision for the future of the world’s food supply. The contemporary GMO food debate illustrates the serious conflict between two groups: Biological Recombinant DNA investors and affiliated scientists who consider this technology a solution to food shortages; and independent scientists, environmentalists, farmers and consumers that suggest these advances increase risk to environmental and health issues.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the world population is expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. That’s two billion extra mouths to feed. If we want to avoid mass malnutrition, farmers will have to increase food production by 70% by 2050 (Isaacson 2015). Unfortunately, agriculture is already putting a strain on our limited natural resources. Humanity, thus, has a dilemma to solve: how do we feed the growing human population without depleting the natural resources and destroying the environment? The answer: genetically modified crops. Since its conception, genetic modification (GM) technology has rapidly advanced, and

Genetically modified organisms have been an huge issue for the world for a lot of people. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are organisms like plants and animals that have their genes altered so they can be more nutritious and prevent diseases. Humans have selected plants for desirable characteristics since the dawn of agriculture. At first, the only way to improve crop plants was to collect seeds from the best performing individuals for planting the next year. Once plant reproduction was better understood, people selectively bred plants to create offspring that were hardier, larger, more flavorful, or more disease resistant than their predecessors. In the early twenty-first century, in the age of genetically modified organisms, the

Genetically modified organisms also called GMO are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. The GMO is segmented into two groups: first group is high-risk because they are commercial products, second is monitored- risk because it is suspected or known incidents of contamination have occurred and/or the crops have genetically modified relatives in commercial production with which cross-pollination (and consequently contamination) is possible, and it’s not healthy for humans. Genetically modified organisms is a nicer word for processed foods, making it unhealthy for human bodies and harder for the body to break down food. GMO products are high-risk and monitored –risk and it is very unhealthy for humans ( Goldbas, A. (2014).

One can argue that genetically modified crops are essential in today’s world. The rapidly growing global population creates an immense demand for crops, and with the amount of available land for agriculture in steady decline; it is imperative that each acre yields the maximum amount of crops possible. The book Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified Crops by Ferry, N. & Gatehouse, A. argues that the “…increasing demands on natural resources and food production, has made the use of new technologies such as GM crops in the agricultural sector essential in many world areas” (Ferry, N. & Gatehouse, A. 2009, P. 70). If genetically modified crops were harmful to consume, then surely they would not be so commonly adopted and essential in many parts of the world. Genetically modified crops are so common that according to Melissa Harris-Perry of MSNBC, 94% of Soy is genetically modified in the US along with 90% of cotton, 95% of sugar beets and 88% of corn (M. Harris-Perry, MSNBC, April 28, 2013). To further advocate for the safety of genetically modified food, Ramez Naam, a professional technologist and author of The Infinite Resource asserts that major scientific bodies such as The National Academies of Science, The American Medical Association and even the French Supreme Court could not find evidence that GMOs are harmful when consumed by humans. It is the reason why genetically modified foods “haven’t required labels thus far” (R. Naam, MSNBC, April 28, 2013). Genetic

Did you know that the use of genetically modified foods is becoming more and more common all the time? It is even estimated that around 60-70 percent of all processed foods on the shelves today, contain GMO ingredients (Erdosh & Lusted, 2014, “Genetically Engineered Food…” section). Dr. Smith, a professor at Cornell believes that “the controversy over genetic engineering arises because the general population has little understanding of plant breeding and the process involved (Hibma, 2015, para. 9).” However, GMOs come with many advantages and these advantages are ones that anyone can look into themselves if they have questions. Some of the advantages include the fact that these crops have a stronger insect resistance, farmers can produce a larger crop, and these foods can provide greater health benefits.