The future of gmos
In the recent 2012 election, a major controversy swarmed around the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). California’s Proposition 37 sought to enforce mandatory labeling on all genetically modified food products. Supporters of the proposition argued that people deserve to know what they are eating, and understand the repercussions of ingesting genetically modified substances since they have received sparse testing and could yield potentially dangerous effects (1). The failure of Proposition 37 green-lights GMO expansion in the United States. The more GMOs are integrated in the fabric of modern society, the more the question of future implications must be stressed. In a study conducted in India on the effects of a genetically modified version of cotton, Bt cotton, revealed some pretty strong evidence that GMOs may be taking more from out planet than they provide (2). Not only did the Bt cotton only reduce pesticide use by a mere 12%, but more importantly the soil used to grow the Bt cotton developed the inability to host any other crop, making it unusable (3).
A bad outlook on future GMO use
GreenPeace International, the world’s largest independent environmental organization, takes a strong stance against GMOs. GreenPeace states that GMOs naturally spread and contaminate “non GEs”. This genetic pollution is irreversible, as seem in the effects of the Bt cotton on the soil in India. Additionally, GMOs impede biodiversity, an essential element to our world’s survival. GreenPeace places GMOs in the category of having uncontrollable effects on the environment and urges policy makers to keep use of them at bay before it is too late (4). Along with future biodiversity reduction, GreenPeace emphasizes that GMOs are NOT a solution to famine but only created an even more unfair distribution of the worlds agricultural resources, promoting the growth of big industries such as Monsanto while killing off the local organic farmer through higher seed prices and production costs. Along with the negative ecological effects, GreenPeace points out that GM food is not necessarily harmless to our health, little long term studies have been done to assess the impact of GMOs on human health. With environmental organizations such as GreenPeace presenting issues with GMOs, the future of GMOs is going to be challenged but whether that challenge will lead to substantial change to how GMOs are currently regulated is to be seen.
Future uses of GMOs; high expectations, great promise
On the other hand, the use of GMO appears to be an outstanding fix for world-wide problems, such as malnutrition. Through immense research, genetically modified organisms have proven to be extremely beneficial to current life. The use of GMOs has allowed for people to become more knowledgeable about the molecular structure of the foods that they are consuming while also allowing this food to become much more abundant and available. There have been thoughts of finally solving the problem of worldwide hunger and being able to supply food on a international level with the use of GMOs. This thought is clearly one which would take years of planning and actually manufacturing. There have been however, more concrete and immediate benefits to the use of genetically modified organisms.
Some of the first mentioned benefits to the use of GMOs are to the large community of farmers that around the world. The use of GMOs has helped farmers to greatly increase their productivity, reduce their costs and remove the threat of toxic chemicals actually affecting the plants when GMOs are not in use. Plants are also seen as benefitting from this use of GMOs. Firstly, when organisms are genetically modified and are immune to pests, there is a strong correlation between their immunity and the production of drugs that will fight off diseases and pathogens in humans as well. For everyday people the use of genetically modified organisms has been thought to improve the foods that they are already eating and help them with deficiencies such as a Vitamin A or an iron one. Another benefit credited to GMOs is one that is more intangible and that is the prospect of having a secure food supply. The GMOs effectively produce food products which could potentially lead to food self-sufficiency worldwide.
As the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering continue to expand and innovate, the problems of world hunger and malnutrition will grow also. While their are uncertainties surrounding GMO use, with little viable options to help fight world hunger and malnutrition and farmers facing productivity and land problems, GMOs are going to be one of the best and possibly only option of the future that will be able to combat these issues on a globalscale changing the face of science and agricultural forever.
Some of the first mentioned benefits to the use of GMOs are to the large community of farmers that around the world. The use of GMOs has helped farmers to greatly increase their productivity, reduce their costs and remove the threat of toxic chemicals actually affecting the plants when GMOs are not in use. Plants are also seen as benefitting from this use of GMOs. Firstly, when organisms are genetically modified and are immune to pests, there is a strong correlation between their immunity and the production of drugs that will fight off diseases and pathogens in humans as well. For everyday people the use of genetically modified organisms has been thought to improve the foods that they are already eating and help them with deficiencies such as a Vitamin A or an iron one. Another benefit credited to GMOs is one that is more intangible and that is the prospect of having a secure food supply. The GMOs effectively produce food products which could potentially lead to food self-sufficiency worldwide.
As the fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering continue to expand and innovate, the problems of world hunger and malnutrition will grow also. While their are uncertainties surrounding GMO use, with little viable options to help fight world hunger and malnutrition and farmers facing productivity and land problems, GMOs are going to be one of the best and possibly only option of the future that will be able to combat these issues on a globalscale changing the face of science and agricultural forever.
Critical Thinking Questions
After weighing the benefits and risks of GMOs, should future use of GMO be continued or halted? Explain your reasoning
As a voter would you have supported or stood against prop 37? Why?
What are other possible solutions to malnutrition? Are these better options than GMOs?
After weighing the benefits and risks of GMOs, should future use of GMO be continued or halted? Explain your reasoning
As a voter would you have supported or stood against prop 37? Why?
What are other possible solutions to malnutrition? Are these better options than GMOs?
Works Cited
1) Maclin, Ellie. “How does the defeat of Proposition 37 influence the future of GMO labeling?” The Examiner. NOVEMBER 8, 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
2 ) Feuerberg, Gary. “Genetically Engineered Organisms Invade Our Planet - What's the Harm?”. The Epoch Times. Mar 12, 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2012
3) Feuerberg, Gary. “Genetically Engineered Organisms Invade Our Planet - What's the Harm?”. The Epoch Times. Mar 12, 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2012
4 )“Say no to GMOs”. GreenPeace.org. 2012. GreenPeace. Web. 11 November 2012.
5) "What is the Future of GMOs?” Nina V. Federoff. American Association for the Advancement of Science.
1) Maclin, Ellie. “How does the defeat of Proposition 37 influence the future of GMO labeling?” The Examiner. NOVEMBER 8, 2012. Web. 11 Nov. 2012.
2 ) Feuerberg, Gary. “Genetically Engineered Organisms Invade Our Planet - What's the Harm?”. The Epoch Times. Mar 12, 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2012
3) Feuerberg, Gary. “Genetically Engineered Organisms Invade Our Planet - What's the Harm?”. The Epoch Times. Mar 12, 2007. Web. 11 Nov. 2012
4 )“Say no to GMOs”. GreenPeace.org. 2012. GreenPeace. Web. 11 November 2012.
5) "What is the Future of GMOs?” Nina V. Federoff. American Association for the Advancement of Science.