The Use Of Genetic Engineering On Agriculture And Food Production Essay

Norman Borlaug once said, “Man 's survival, from the time of Adam and Eve until the invention of agriculture, must have been precarious because of his inability to ensure his food supply.” Throughout the history of mankind, the global food supply has become a battleground for politicians, scientists, and farmers. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have been in the spotlight throughout much of the last four decades, offering a viable solution to world hunger issues. It is through genetic engineering that scientists can achieve the creation of genetically modified crops, creating new crop varieties designed to yield more products with less inputs. Genetically modified foods offer numerous benefits, such as boosting our economy, eradicating hunger and malnutrition, and also provide a safe food source for a growing population. Genetically modified foods are economically viable, able to help ease world hunger issues and are in fact safe to eat.

In North America and Europe the value and impact of genetically engineered food crops have become subjects of intense debate, provoking reactions from unbridled optimism to fervent political opposition.

Because of the success of transgenic crops like Bt corn, the usage and availability of GMOs has increased exponentially. The number of GM crops produced in the United States grew from 1.45 hectares in 1996 to over 29 million in 2000. This accounts for about 70% of the total GM crops grown in the world (European Commission 2). Similar patterns have emerged from other agriculture-intensive countries like Canada, Argentina, China, and Brazil. Large percentages of products like soybeans (68%), cotton (50%) and corn (28%) are now

One country began testing with genetically modified organisms, in which would be Africa. In an article from United Nations University it states, “GM crop-producing countries have benefited by improved crop productivity, food security and quality of life,” which provides a little bit of experience to a country that has a high poverty rate and the want to get their people out of starvation. With combined efforts with the United States, they have begun testing and growing GMO’s for their own use. Another country Tanzania has also began using these GMO’s through use of more drought resistant corn. “The confinded field trial, a pre-cursor to commercialization will demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of a drought- tolerant GM maize hybrid” (Cornell Alliance for Science), proves that even countries that receive little to no rain, but also have little water to spare can also provide their countries with more food than before the start. Dr. Kingstone Mashingaidze, a scientist with the National Agricultural Research Council in South Africa states, “It’s important that we develop drought- tolerant varieties to ensure food security”, which gives a little knowledge from a professional view about the necessary benefits of using genetically modified

Currently GM crops in our food system include soy (94%), cotton (90%), canola (90%), sugar beets (95%), corn (88%), Hawaiian

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).

Perhaps the most relevant and understandable factor behind opposition of the use of GMOs is the lack of desperate need. In developed countries, there is no issue in feeding the populace. However, in developing countries the story is much different. Farmers in developing countries still use outdated practices and don’t have access to the same technology as those in developed countries. This contributes to the difficulty of farmers in developing countries to feed the country’s entire population. GMOs reduce the maturation time of crops, allowing them to be harvested more often throughout the year. They can also decrease the vulnerability of crops to flood, drought, and frost, leading to increased crop yields (Goyal and Gurtoo 1). Thus, it is not surprising that those in developing countries are extremely welcoming to the use of GMOs. In

Some people may say that GM foods that are given to 3rd world countries are bad and unhelpful. Some african farmers have actually asked for them to be banned. They say that we should, ‘“recognise that farmers in Africa already have effective approaches to seed and agriculture, which are far more environmentally and farmer-friendly than GM.’” But their crops don’t have special nutrients in them that they need to survive like GM foods do. In GM foods they insert genes like beta carotene from other organisms to make them

GMOs have been around for quite some time. Farmers have been cross-breeding and modifying their crops for thousands and thousands of years. GMOs were originally made to create the best crops for farmers to farm and distribute. Elton Robinson, a editor for Delta Farm Press says that Genetically-engineered or GMO crops are safe, reduced in chemical use and contribute to the long-term profitability of farmers all over the world (Robinson). Through these words he conveys that GMOs are vital. A world without genetically engineered crops would be horrible, food costs would soar, yields would go down, input costs would rise and many farmers would have to resort to less-environmentally friendly methods of controlling

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.

By 2050 there are estimated to be 9 billion people in the world (“Paturel and Yamakawa”). We are not gaining any more land so we must find a more efficient way to grow crops. GMO’S help provide a larger product. By growing a larger percent of them, we can also cut down on deforestation because we will be using land more efficiently by producing more products on the same number of acres.

As of the year 2000, 37 percent of the Earth’s total land area was devoted to agriculture (Unit 7). Humans consume more than 11 million pounds of food every minute or about 5.8 trillion pounds per year (Thomson, 2014). All of this food production influences countless aspects of our lives, including the global economy. So, it is imperative that the farming methods we choose to implement are optimized. One method that has become popular yet controversial is Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). Some people believe that organic practices provide the best quality food. Others consider genetic modification to be the most beneficial by allowing farmers to produce more crops with the same amount or even less space. The fact is, GMOs are in almost everything we consume. Significant research demonstrates that they benefit our society by providing more food, while using less energy and less space to do so.

Since their discovery in the 1980s to today in 2016, the implication of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in agriculture is ruthlessly debated and discussed with no real solution or overwhelming majority on one position. The global advancement in modern science and technology has brought forth many innovations and inventions that are designed to overcome various life challenges. GMOs are one such innovation that has been created to help alleviate agricultural problems and enhance the simple act of growing crops. GMOs, a term used to describe the development of animals or plants whose genetic material is altered in order to be a superior version of the traditional one, are seen as a significant development in science that can solve problems related to agricultural practices. It is deemed a technological advancement that can improve the problems related to food production and starvation. However, many critics believe that GMOs can be a potential hazard to the environment, animals, and humans alike. In addition, many people are concerned about the consumption of crops that are chemically changed in place of crops that are naturally grown with little scientific intervention. The implementation of GMOs brings forth a pivotal environmental issue because GMOs can pose as a future solution to agricultural production and world hunger but also have the potential to cause harm to humans and the environment.

Genetically Modified Organisms, also known as GMOs, is one of the major issues arising in our economy today. GMOs are distinctive organisms in which the genetic material has been altered to improve productivity and the quality of the product. Genetically modified organisms have prominent concerns over their apparent beneficial ways in that they’re resistant to disease, help the epidemic of famine, and improve the nutritional value of foods. Having certain foods in your everyday diet is very substantial in humans to be healthy, and to have the quality of life we deserve. It’s no secret in how GMOs have affected our products worldly. In order to bring this epidemic to a halt we fist have to come to an understanding on how dangerous these organisms can be. Genetically altered crops can lead to serious destruction of not only our environment, but also contaminate our organic crops. Also major companies who work with GMOs intend to monopolize market-foods. To prevent these Genetically Modified organisms, it should be labeled on their products, and so then people can be aware of the danger that comes with these products.

Among the millions of species that inhabit the planet, only twenty species provide ninety percent of the human food supply (Montgomery 2000). Since the introduction of genetic engineering, however, livestock and crops have a more productive future. Transfer of engineered genes from organism to organism occurs through hybridization, conjugation, and transformation in microorganisms. By the substitution of genes into agricultural species, biodiversity can flourish to improve social and economic development. Although methods of gene and DNA implantation quickly develop advanced products, even precise genetic alterations do not ensure that the environment will remain balanced or that changes in