Many developed countries such as the United States, Brazil, Canada, China, and South Africa are using genetically modified crops as a solution to several issues in their countries. Outside of feeding the masses, ethanol and meat production are industries that depend on excess amounts of corn to keep afloat. With how much of our food is modified in some fashion, one would think it was thoroughly tested before being used with such lax regulations. With what studies have recently emerged, we need to question whether it is safe and economically sound to use GMOs in developing and already developed countries. South Africa is currently undergoing a tug-of-war regarding the sustainability of its resources considering it becoming increasingly …show more content…
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. Taking into account what governments have done both nationally and internationally, it is up to the individual to formulate an opinion about a topic that influences everyone worldwide. Some
What is a GMO? A genetically modified organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering (Lallanilla). Most GMOS are modified from another organism. These organisms could be an animal, virus, bacterium, or a plant. They are called "transgenic" organisms.
GM foods are in the middle of many controversial issues; primarily these are addressed by conflicts over the relative pros and cons of GM foods. Major biotech companies like ‘Monsanto ' and ‘Cargill ' are promoting GM foods by focusing only on their beneficial aspects, giving least importance to their negative effects on safety, environment and biodiversity. On the other hand, governmental regulators and nongovernmental organizations, along with some scientists, are strictly opposing this type of blind promotion of GM food by enlightening the people on their negative effects The controversies associated with GM foods include issues such as safety, environmental benefits and risks, biodiversity, and ethical and social considerations.GM foods are implicated for adverse human health risks like people being allergic to it, environmental hazards such as development of super weeds, and pesticide and antibiotic resistance in disease causing organisms. On the other
In conclusion, GMOs and pesticides are harmful and alarming to producers and consumers. They cause animals pain and harm humans when consumed. Many animals live short and painful lives, while humans now must suffer with long term diseases or damage to their bodies. Although some argue that Genetically modified produce is benefiting producers and consumers, I still argue that genetically modified organisms harm animals and
In addition, the article substantiates the importance of pre-market and post-market analysis of GMOs so as to determine overall safety. The article cites several other research papers by other authors from the scientific community that adds overall credibility to the source. Dr. Harry A. Kuiper is involved in safety assessment of residues of Agrochemicals in food, of health protecting compounds and of genetically modified foods. He was leader of various national and EU-financed projects concerning food safety. Gijs A. Kleter Has a background in post‐graduate biochemical and biomedical research. His main areas of recent publications include the safety of GMOs to be used as food and/or feed, as well as the early identification of emerging food safety risks. Hub P. J. M. Noteborn is a MT-member NVWA having managerial and co-ordinating duties in the process of integrated risk assessment, and leader of the unit. His job is accountable for designing strategic and conceptual aspects and managing national and international (research) programmes. Esther J. Kok is involved in Genomics, Biotechnology, Food Quality and Safety. This article is an extremely relevant source as it provides examples of the various testing methods in determining food safety and demonstrates the unsafe factors and potential risk in consuming
Genetically Modified Organisms. Sounds familiar, right? GMOs have become a controversial issue all around the world. What are GMOs exactly? GMOS are special organisms with artificially altered genetic makeup produced in a lab from the splicing of specific genes from another organism. Even its’ description seems overwhelming. What’s worse is the fact that there’s seldom any warning labels for GMOs on products. It isn’t very helpful that the United States does not require GMOs to be labeled on store-bought foods. Most of the time, people are oblivious to the foods they consume and how those foods are a detriment to their health. All the same, I am also a part of the oblivion. I, too have consumed modified foods without any knowledge of its
However, these risks are purely speculative: 81 separate studies costing approximately $65 million have been conducted by the European Commission alone and have shown no evidence of any risk linked to GM foods (1). Indeed, the U.S. has concluded that the risk of GM crops is minimal. As a result, in the U.S., genetically altered crops accounted for 93% of planted soybeans and cotton and 86% of corn in 2009. (2). Considering the success and benefits of GM crops in America, developing countries have followed suit. In 2009, India planted 84,000 square kilometers of genetically modified cotton, and Brazil planted 214,000 square kilometers of GM soybeans, a 26% increase from the year before (3). Like the U.S., these countries conducted a risk-benefit analysis and concluded that the economic, health, and food surplus benefits of GM crops offset the unproven risks (4). Thus, agricultural biotechnology is being implemented in farming techniques throughout the world.
Thesis: GMOs are the leading cause of neurological diseases; it can be solved by labeling GMOs
Generally Modified Organism better known as GMOs are becoming a popular topic of argument around the world. The question on everyone’s mind is whether GMOs are safe to consume and what effects they may possibly have. GMOS while becoming a topic today have been around for years now. Scientists have been genetically altering crops for years now and this idea has been around for some time. Nonetheless, GMOs are becoming the new wave of discussion among many. GMOs are needed today to help the food shortage but first studies need to be done to show are GMOs safe, the impact they have on the environment, and to show what are the pros and cons are.
“All the food we eat - every grain of rice and kernel of corn - has been genetically modified. None of it was here before mankind learned to cultivate crops. The question isn 't whether our food has been modified, but how” (Specter, Michael). Because there are various GMOs on the world, it is crucial that mankind doesn’t rule out all GMOs but carefully evaluates each GMO. More specifically the health risks, ecological risks, and societal benefits should be tested on each individual GMO. Not only, should the composition of these seeds be tested, but also the process of how these seeds grow. For example, the insecticides and pesticides used on GMOs should be tested prior to the release of these crops to the
Our world wants the best of everything especially if it means to play around and mix genes. Science today has mixed many genes from an organism to another one. This process is known as GMO’s. In other words, genetically modified organisms are either plants and animals that are experimented on to level them up. Yet, scientists are too blinded by the fact that GMOs are causing problems to our society. Genetically modified organisms are not beneficial to modern society because they are causing health issues, allergies, and are messing with an organism’s life.
People in different countries around the world have been debating about whether to use GMOs since the 90’s. Organic companies do not want GMOs to exist because the companies that make them are their competition. Most of Europe does not approve the use of them due to the fear of health risks, damaging ecosystems, and their mentality that they do not favor big multinational companies. Although they make a valid point, if proper precautions and tests are taken for the GMOs then they should not worry. Many of the most influential health regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, Health Canada, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Academy
GMO crops have been a controversial topic for many years, whether if they are morally right or if they are dangerous for consumption. Although GMO’s are typically frowned upon in developed countries, they have potentially life saving capabilities and should be used in underdeveloped or developing locations throughout the world, like Africa, to support their growing economies and populations.
The first technique used in the documentary, GMO OMG by Jeremy Seifert, that I found very effective was the use of scientific research. This research helps to persuade the people watching the documentary that GMO’s are indeed harmful toward our healths. Jeremy interviewed a scientist named Gilles Eric Seralini who was a professor of molecular biology. He conducted a research on Monsanto’s 603 GMO corn to see the health effects caused by it. Seralini conducted his research in order to find out whether or not it would have a negative impact on the rat. Effects from the GMO’s were shown quite quickly after a couple of months as the rats had severe tumours in their livers and kidneys. Moreover, when the research of
Because richer nations don’t currently need GMOs it is easy to denounce them under any possibility that they could be harmful. Because developed nations are not as affected, they would rather just avoid and condemn GMOs seemingly without consequence due to any potential risk rather than actually analyze and evaluate the harmful effects. There are, however, consequences that often go unnoticed in poor nations where the efficiency of GMO crops is crucial to feeding their explosive population growth. Rather than blindly condemn all GMOs, it is important to clarify misconceptions about GMOs so that the debate can shift focus to the extent of screening and testing that should be conducted before approving a GMO product for human consumption.