Genetic Engineering

Genetically Modified Crops : A Solution to World Hunger or A catalyst for World Catastrophe

With nearly a quarter of the world living in hunger , scientists have been hard at work to develop new solutions to address the problem . One of these solutions is the creation of genetically modified foods that have the ability to grow virtually anywhere and have the added benefits of having more nutrients than organically grown crops (McHughen 22 While these genetically modified foods are aimed at addressing the food problem and have arguably been promising , concerns have also

been raised with regard to the safety of such foods and whether or not these may be detrimental to the health of human beings in the long run (Smith 275

The decision to be made in determining whether or not genetically modified crops are a boon or bane on humanity is not something that can just be simply made . Genetically modified crops may present the solution to end worldwide hunger . They may also have the answers to many other problems that the world is facing right now . In to fully understand whether or not genetically modified crops are a blessing there must be a short analysis of the benefits that they provide

The recent trend in shifting from fossil fuels to more environmentally friendly gases has caught the attention of not only the automotive industry but the biotechnology companies as well . Recent studies have shown a certain type of corn that can provide higher yields of ethanol that is being used in a number of environmentally friendly vehicles (McHughen 24

Aside from providing energy alternatives , genetically modified crops can also present more food . The development of insect resistant foods could raise the potential yield in corps worldwide (McHughen 24 . This increase in yield can also lead to lower prices thus making food more available and more importantly , more affordable especially for those in the third world countries where meals come far and between

While these benefits certainly warrant a stern consideration for the mass adoption of genetically modified crops in man 's daily diet and uses , it is also important to examine the arguments that these crops may cause significant biological changes in mankind as argued by certain scientists (Byrne 312

Studies have shown that genetically modified foods may also pose health risks to human beings as there has not yet been thorough testing on the long term effects of these foods . This concern , however , should not act as a deterrent and neither should it be a reason for ceasing the development of genetically modified foods . In the thirteen (13 ) years that genetically modified foods have come into existence , there have been no reports of any adverse effects that it has had on human beings (Byrne 312 . While there may have been the toxic potato ' scare in 1998 , there are certainly more benefits to be derived from the continued development of genetically modified foods and virtually no reported side effects (Byrne 312

The general sentiment is that genetically modified foods , although not scientifically proven to be harmful , should be properly tested and regulated for human consumption before it is released into the market The further development and patronage of genetically modified foods may indeed solve the world hunger problem and perhaps hold the key to world peace . There is no scientific basis to show that these foods present adverse effects on human beings and there is a lot of evidence to show just how beneficial these foods may be to the world (Hileman 11 . It will only be a matter of time before the rest of the world wakes up and realizes that this is indeed the boon that it has been waiting for

References

Byrne , J . et . Al (2006 ) HYPERLINK "http /www .aei .org /books /bookID .842 /book_detail .asp " \o "http /www .aei .org /books /bookID .842 /book_detail .asp " Let Them Eat Precaution . How Politics Is Undermining the Genetic Revolution in Agriculture . Edited by Jon Entine AEI Press (Washington ) 2006

Hileman , Bette (2001 "Engineered Corn Poses Small Risk " Chemical and Engineering News 79 , no . 38 (September 17 , 2001 : 11

McHughen , A (2000 ) Pandora 's Picnic Basket : The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods , Oxford University Press , 2000

Smith , Jeffry (2003 ) Seeds of Deception : Exposing Industry and Government Lies About the Safety of the Genetically Engineered Foods You 're Eating , Yes ! Books , 2003 , HYPERLINK "http /en .wikipedia .org /w /index .php ?title Special :Booksources isbn 0972 966587 " ISBN

GENETIC ENGINEERING Page PAGE 1 of NUMPAGES 1 ...