Benefits and the set-backs of Producing GM foods

Benefits in GM Foods
Source pbtained from:http://www.foothilltech.org/9th-grade-action-based-project/health-care/genetically_modified_foods-1984.htm

The first and foremost issue is, what are the benefits of the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in food products. Humans are not the only beneficiaries of GM foods; there are benefits for crops, animals and society as a whole. Genetic engineering may enhance the taste and quality of food products. It reduces that maturation time and increases nutrients found in the food. Genetic engineering improves resistance to disease, pests and herbicides and increases yields and stress tolerance. Biotechnology companies have rushed to produce characteristics such as resistance to drought, disease and insects in food crops that previously did not have them. Many new crops require less processing in the factories and fewer additives. Because they have genes that make them last longer, there is less wastage. Another possible benefit is the reduced use of pesticides, fertilizers and energy compared to conventional farming methods. Farmers do not need to till the soil, lessening soil erosion and reducing labor and machinery. Animals reap the benefits of GM foods – they have an increased resistance, productivity, and hardiness. They give better yields of meat, eggs and milk. Their health is also improved through the consumption of this food. Moreover, genetic engineering not only produces advanced crop products, it benefits the environment as a whole. Genetic engineering produces friendly bioherbicides and bioinsecticides. It provides for better natural waste management and helps conserve soil, water and energy. Additionally, one of the most important benefits of GM foods is the increased food security for growing populations. Gm foods offer greater yields and more resistance to pests and viruses which in turn assure the growing population that there will be enough food to eat.

Set-backs of producing GM foods
Consumers are often not aware that they are consuming GMOs, as the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet made labeling of GMOs in food a requirement. There is continued research and more products are found to contain GMOs. GM foods are unlabelled and are everywhere. The possibilities of human allergies to these organisms or chemicals is a risk that some members of society do not wish to take yet they have no choice as they are not aware which foods contain the GMO. GM food could be a serious risk to human health. Proteins made from the foreign genes might be directly toxic to humans. The genes could alter the functioning of a plant in ways that make its food component less nutritious or more prone to carrying elevated levels of the natural poisons that many plants contain in small amounts that could be toxic to humans.

The following is another of my research for the benefits and the set-backs of producing GM Foods in point form.

Source obtained from: http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml

Benefits

Crops

• Enhanced taste and quality
• Reduced maturation time
• Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance
• Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides
• New products and growing techniques

Animals

• Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and feed efficiency
• Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk
• Improved animal health and diagnostic methods
  

Environment

• "Friendly" bioherbicides and bioinsecticides
• Conservation of soil, water, and energy
• Bioprocessing for forestry products
• Better natural waste management
• More efficient processing
  

Society

• Increased food security for growing populations

Controversies

Safety

• Potential human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects Potential environmental impact: unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms (e.g., soil microbes), and loss of flora and fauna biodiversity

Access and Intellectual Property

• Domination of world food production by a few companies
• Increasing dependence on Industralized nations by developing countries
• Biopiracy—foreign exploitation of natural resources

Ethics

• Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values
• Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species
• Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa
• Stress for animal

Labeling

• Not mandatory in some countries (e.g., United States)
• Mixing GM crops with non-GM confounds labeling attempts

Society

• New advances may be skewed to interests of rich countries