Genetically Modified (GM): Pros and Cons

Genetically Modified (GM) Pros and ConsFood is a vital source for the survival of mankind. The current global aliment crisis has bring forth too significant a problem that we can non avoid this bang every further. Several solutions argon made to salvage the situation ex qualifyable educating the demesnes on eating habits, population control and providing victuals and financial aid to sad countries that face hunger and famine. However, enforcing birth control and changing eating habits is accomplishable but difficult to change the mindset of billions of bulk within the honest future, what we need is an adjacent response to tackle this exponentially increasing problem. The more or less efficient solution to solve the global intellectual nourishment shortage issue might be the reliance on science and technology, the growth and aspiration of factortically-modified (GM) intellectual nourishment. Despite many a(prenominal) controersies regarding the usage of GM food, it could be the best dissolvent to handle this global food shortage. In this is term, the pros and cons of GM food en leave be evaluated along with reference from two developing countries mainland China and Philippines which leave alone describe their wasting disease and attitude to GM foods.The macrocosm of GM food can romp a rather significant role in solving the problem of food shortage worldwide. GM food are produced quicker and an additional advantage of GM food to food that are grown by nature is with the help of genitical enhancement, certain food are manufacture to grow more nutritiously than when produced naturally, for example, golden rice genetically developed to proffer Vitamin A leave behind help reduce Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) unremarkably contracted in developing countries as a result of malnutrition (Curtis McCluskey Wahl, 2004). other example that shows a plus point to the suppor of GM food is drought- resistive crops. They are created to allow crop y ield without being too sensitively abnormal by erratic climate changes. This means that crops can still be grown and harvested to feed raft even when rain doesnt come. Kenya, for example, has been experiencing drought for the 4th consecutive year. In addition to the lack of rain, the unpredictability as to when rain will come ca utilizes confusing and inefficient planting and hence, deplorable harvesting. With the exercise of genetically heighten drought-resistant crops, they will not face problems like poor harvest. (Integrated Regional Information Networks, 2009). Furthermore, since GM crops are produced more quickly than naturally grown crops, crop yield will profit significantly which benefits farmers and roughly importantly, reduce the problem of food shortage.However, there is an argument that contradicts the point in GM crops helping the increase of crop yield. It is asserted by Mexican Research Scientist, Dr. Antonio Serratos (2008) that production of GM food is unp redictable resulting in the ontogenesis of a mutated version of the actual species. The unpredictability also questions the production of GM crops being more efficient than traditonal methods. As refered from the example before regarding the creation of drought-resistant crops, the essence of drought-resistant can also be transfered to weeds. Hence, evolving weeds into drought resistant weeds. This will then result in an increased implement of fertilisers or even fertilisers of higher potencies to get rid of the GM weeds which rather do more harm to the ecosystem than by traditional breeding. Therefore, an increased in enhanced weed could also lead to a reduction in crop yield.On the other hand, the following argument faults the unpredictability of genitically enhanced crops. Plant Scientist from the John Innes Centre, Dr. Giles Oldroyd (2008) argue that science, by definition is predictable. When one gene of an organism is transfered into another organism it is through thoroughl y and sensitively to mark accuracy. Furthermore, a case study of stuffy growing of crops requiring nitrogen fertilisers. The use of nitrogen fertilisers beget many adversed effects such as deaths in Mexico and depleting natural resources (fossil fuels). This natural method of crop growing is doing harm to the surroundings and debates that the perceived unpredictability of genetically enhanced crops are harmful. Dr. Oldroyd also believes that the use of biotechnology is required to prevent issues from food shortage due to the intricacy in world population and climate change.My first example of a developing unsophisticated is the Philippines. It is one of the pioneers in Asia to use GM crops where in the main feed was substituted with GM Insect-protected (Bt) corn which has assisted farmers in controlling trespass of insects on the corn without the use of agricultural pesticides. The following example will explain how the use of GM crops is more convenient and profitable tha n conventional cropping. Jerry Due is one of more than 50, 000 Filipino farmers in the Philippines that embrace the use of GM corn. Due had less problems dealing with corn borers. Furthermore, he has had an increase of an estimated 20 to 30 percent increase in yield since he started using GM grains two years ago. This also reflected positively on his income, he is now confident in being able to spell sufficient money to send his son to school and support his end-to-end his studies. In addition, Due stated that another advantage to the use of the Insect-protected corn is that they need not burn the residue in their harvest where it is necessary for naturally bred corn, instead they simply leave the residue in the scope where it will naturally deompose and become fertilisers. Hence having more time to elapse on his family and also reduce negative impacts to the environment. (Monsanto, 2005)However, there were much internal debate for Philippines to allow GM crops to be grown in t he country due to mainly religious reasons. Philippines is mainly a Roman Catholic country, it has encountered fierce disapproval from environmental groups as well as many Catholic bishops when the Philippine regime approved growth of GM crops in the country. Mr. Gloria Arroyo, Filipino President state that the Vaticans approach to GM crops is postive and has allowed the country to range them however, the Vatican states otherwise. The Vatican were still in the midst of discussion, studying the implications and ethics of using GM crops (Mantell, 2003). Cardinal Gaudencio Ro bargains Archbishop of Manila intercommunicate President Arroyo to eliminate sale of GM rice products that were imported from the United States as they pose dangers to the peoples wellness as well as the environment. He stated that As a church institution, we have moral obligation to protect the interest of Gods people and their inherent right to safe food and healthy environment (Rosales cited by Digal, 2007 )The government sees the necessity of GM crop being grown in the country which will help its people economically as depict that it had to weigh the consequences between the idealogy of faith and desperation over food deficit.My bet on example of a developing country and its use of GM food isChina, the country with the largest population in the world.With over 1.3 billion people and an expect population of 1.4 billion by late 2010s, this is a massive nation requires an incredibly large supply of food to feed its people (Rosenberg, 2008).The China government is very supportive of food biotechonology because they understand the urgency of the immediate availibility of food and the additional nutrional content that GM food can provide. It has policies of liberty which resulted in China being the fourth largest producer of GM crops globally. The government also believes that more efficient agricultural production techniques need to be practised and GM crops have proven to show superio rity over conventional crops with higher yield, pest resistance and longer shelf life.The people in China has a relatively positive attitude towards the use of biotechnology on food where only 9.3% of respondents in a go off display negative opinions towards the use of biotechnology on food. This could be partly due to positive influences from the countrys government regulation and media coverage . Moreover, the benefits of GM food are considered outweighed to its so-called healths risks and implications. The general benefits which are key factors to developing countries like China are the availibility of food, the nutritional enhancement and last but not least, the economic advantage to the use of food biotechnology.A consumer-attitude analysis was done in China and results show that Chinese consumers are willing to leave an average of 16% appreciation for GM soybean oil and 38% appreciation for GM rice over natural alternatives (Curtis McCluskey Wahl, 2004). Another check int o was done to show that at least half of the survey respondents have heard of GM food and about half urveyed that were adequately informed about GM food define GM food as safe for consumption. Only about 20% of overall surveyed feel that GM food is considered unsafe (Zhong Marchant Ding Lu, 2002). This shows that the chinese consumers are not sottish as to what GM food is all about. The reason as to wherefore chinese consumers are willing to pay premium for GM food is that they are willing to experiment new products. They have great trust in the governments judgement on food safety and the price change between GM and conventionally grown food is not a factor big enough to prevent them from buying (Curtis McCluskey Wahl, 2004).In conclusion, this article has shown perspectives from two developing countries and their postive attitude towards the use of GM food apart(predicate) from religious reasons. Most importantly, this essay has evaluated and shown that the use of biotechonolog y on food as a response to tackle the food crisis faced worldwide has been relatively successful with reference from the two developing countries discussed. Genetically modified crops play a very important role in increasing power in production of food for the world, perceived health risks dangers, for example, mice that were fed with food that underwent biotechnology had severe health damages (Zhong, Marchant, Ding, Lu 2002) need to be cushioned and the embracement of enhanced crops ought to be look upon by the entire world.BibliographyCurtis K McCluskey J Wahl T. 2004, AgBioForun Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Food Products in the ontogenesis WorldDigal S. 2007, AsiaNews Stop US GM Food, says Cardinal Rosales Accessed on 27/11/09 from http//www.asianews.it/view4print.php?1=enart=8509Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) 2009, prevention Web Kenya Drought-resistant crops encouraged Accessed on 28/11/09 from http//www.preventionweb.net/english/ sea captain/ne ws/v.php?id=10731Mantell K. 2003, Science and Development Network Philippines announces Vaticans approval of GM food Accessed on 27/11/09 from http//www.scidev.net/en/news/philippines-announces-vaticans-approval-of-gm-foo.htmlMonsanto Company, 2005, Filipino Farmers gather Advantages of Genetically Modified Organisms Accessed on 27/11/09 from http//www.monsanto.com/biotech-gmo/asp/farmers.asp?cname=philippinesid=jerrydueRosenberg M. 2008, nigh China Population Accessed on 28/11/09 from http//geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/chinapopulation.htmZhong F Marchant M Ding Y Lu K. 2002, AgBioForum GM Foods A Nanjing Case Study of Chinese Consumers Awareness and Potential Attitudes