The Worlds Hunger and Malnutrition Problems - Case Study Example

Genetically Modified Crops Food is one of the better things in life. If people avoid eating, they would automatically go hungry. If they avoid eating for too long, they would eventually die. The self-deficiency of food means the human capacity would miss out all the great gastronomic experiences that life brings with it (Gordon, 2006). Food, in traditional perspective, symbolizes security, comfort, and family. Unfortunately, the world has continued to struggle in feeding its population effectively (Bennett & Jennings, 2013). This has resulted in the incapability of the most planted and dependable world crops not yielding sufficient food. This has mandated for the world to turn into other ways to sustain the productivity of these crops through Genetically Modified crops (Scott, 2006). This scientifically improvised approach aims at arriving in the potential of solving many of the world’s hunger and malnutrition problems. Genetically modified crops (GMCs) are plants used in agriculture. Through the use of genetic engineering techniques, the DNAs of these crops undergo modification. In these laboratories, the genetic makeup of indigenous species changes through adding of one or more genes to a plant’s genome using genetic engineering techniques (Smith, 2007). Most of these plants develop through biolistic method or particle gun mediated transformation. The purpose of this technology is to induce new traits upon the plant that do not occur naturally in the species. Scientifically, some of these traits include the ability of the plant to resist pests, diseases, or environmental conditions (Webb & Whitney, 2006). The science of genetically modified crops helps to improve the nutrient of the crop as well as a reduction in the crop spoilage. The inability of indigenous crops to yield sufficient food capable of mitigating world hunger comes from above challenges that so easily have faced extinction in the wake of genetic engineering (Scott, 2006). To the advantage of many farmers, the genetically modified science revolves around the crops they often use in farms. Because of the high regulatory and research costs, the majority of genetically modified crops in agriculture consists of commodity crops. They include corn, cotton, potato (for food and starch), rice, soybeans, sugar beet, sugar cane, sweet peppers, tomatoes, and wheat (Smith, 2007). The world feeds on these crops, and a boost in their productive capacity would alleviate a big percentage of world hunger. GM crops that grow in today’s today, under the experimental conditions have the modified traits that provide benefit to farmers, consumers, as well as the industry (Bennett & Jennings, 2013). As an initiative to rise above the global hunger, genetic engineering research and development targets enhancement of crops that are locally important in developing countries such as insect resistant cowpea for growing in the African continent, and insect resistant brinjal, commonly known as the eggplant in India (Webb & Whitney, 2006). The deal in this innovative progress is to tame hunger in mostly hit countries in the world like African continent as well as world populous countries like India (Thomson, 2002). The ability of science to use promoter specific to introduce new genes into plants into specific areas where the genes require expression is the journey that has seen more than enough yield in crops which originally yielded less. This has ensured a reliable source of crop species that can guarantee a bumper harvest hence this would overtake the effects of hunger in the world. The answer to the ever-stretching hunger across the globe attaches itself on genetic engineering of crops. GM crops have the capability to eradicate hunger since their production capability is empirical. In the process of food production, a significant quantity of arable land and natural resources come into use (Webb & Whitney, 2006). The GMs holds the promise to alleviate this burden on the earth. This is because the efficiency of the land issue has become a significant issue globally with the estimated global population expected to reach 9 billion people by 2050. The biggest challenge to this which planet would accommodate such a population and what amount of land would be left large enough to feed the population (Bennett & Jennings, 2013). According to anthropogenic climate change and urbanization, the size of the arable land faces imminent distinction. Therefore, conserving land in order to produce more food is a necessity and biotechnology firms have assured that transgenic crops would promise more food, regardless of the size of the land anywhere in the world (Webb & Whitney, 2006). This is an affirmation to the earlier assertion that GM crops increase the percentage of the yield compared to the indigenous crops. Because of this, promising yields, biotechnology firms, state that such varieties of crops, if supplied and planted for food production, would improve the livelihood of the farmers around the globe hence reach that needed capacity to feed the ever-stretching population. It is for this reason that the GM crops’ capability to alleviate world hunger heavily falls in their option (Scott, 2006). Therefore, the question as to whether genetically modified crops can feed the world has become an almost old cliché’ since genetic engineering innovated GM crops. One of the main benefits that the supporters of GM crops advocate for their use lies in their use to help lessen the world hunger. For example, in proving their claim, research shows that during 2011, 160 million hectares of biotech crops faced the test. This size of land was 10% of the earth’s arable land and it came as an 8% increase than the preceding year (Smith, 2007). This proved that the growth recorded by biotech crops is the fastest segment in agriculture. Even though many of these foods end up in the animal feeding program, plenty enough of it has made its way directly into the majority of processed food substances sold in America and Asia (Thomson, 2002). The GM crops have brought this recognizable achievement into the agricultural world. They have the capability to grow, yield, and feed the world much faster than the normal rate recorded by the indigenous crops. This is because they are cheaper to grow. Those who have ventured in agricultural crop farming have their good days ahead with GM crops changing the farming trend. In the same sense, farmers would find it more affordable to grow GM crops, which require less resources and guaranteed yielding than the traditional crop species (Bennett & Jennings, 2013). On another level, the GM crops increase yield. This would ensure that the diminishing size of the arable land around the globe is not a worry. With the GM crops, one would be able to grow and harvest enough food, plenty to feed his family and have some surplus. The ever-changing global climate, which remains the adage towards profitable agricultural farming, has less effect on GM crops (Thomson, 2002). The GM crops have also provided a solution to the land, which are dry and unproductive. These species have the capability to extend the time span that that food remains edible. In this capacity, it thus seems reasonable as to why GM crops should take the centre stage along the agricultural practices across the globe since they have the potential to provide food to an already hungry world. Feeding the hungry world would not call for continual practice of traditional farming methods or moving large supplies of food around the world. As a perception of many, this would be a possibility, but the fact is it is an expensive venture (Scott, 2006). The biotechnology would help in arriving to permanent solution, especially in continents like Africa, where the growth of cereal production per capita has faced stagnation due to limited technology availability, infrastructure, market and security to land rights (Ferry & Gatehouse, 2009). Accordingly, the loss of topsoil due to erosion, desertification, and salinity, vast tracks of agricultural land have gone into waste, and only GM crops can resuscitate these fields (Thomson, 2002). Therefore, the advances in the genetic field would since these crops ensure accelerated breeding of plant genomes than the normal rate. The expansion of agricultural innovation through the adoption of GM crops has improved the yielding of crops in many countries. It has also enhanced greater consumer benefit through greater than before food availability and enhanced nutritional quality (Bennett & Jennings, 2013). Moreover, genetically modified crops have overcome deficiencies in dietary micronutrients such as zinc, iron, and vitamin A. Through bio-fortification, these nutrients are readily available. Most of the developing and third world countries have recorded high percentage of malnutrition nutrient deficiency (Ferry & Gatehouse, 2009). The GM crop innovation would be a big gain if such countries and this would be a step towards the bigger picture of alleviating global hunger through genetically modified crops. In conclusion, genetically modified crops can truly change the food productivity within the globe. There are encouraging signs and achievements recorded through GM crops which provide a ray of hope towards feeding an already hungry world (Gordon, 2006). In the current world, it is true that the space of arable land is limited and the human population is multiplying every day. This would then mean that in a few years to come, people would not feed to satisfaction. The invention of GM crops, thus would remain the Saviour in alleviating the imminent hunger that the world is glaring at. This is due to the increased potential to increase yields, and reduce cost and labour costs. This innovation, thus offers the prospect of greater economic independence and social development for farmers who for long have faced the challenges of subsistence agriculture. The results would involve greater and the bumper harvest hence new technology of genetic engineering has the potential. References Bennett, D. J., & Jennings, R. C. (2013). Successful agricultural innovation in emerging economies: New genetic technologies for global food production. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Ferry, N., & Gatehouse, A. M. R. (2009). Environmental impact of genetically modified crops. Wallingford, UK: CABI. Gordon, S. (2006). Critical perspectives on genetically modified crops and food. New York: Rosen Pub. Group. Scott, A. J. (2006). Addicted to placebos: Understanding science and society. S.l.: Alan J. Scott. Smith, A. F. (2007). The Oxford companion to American food and drink. New York: Oxford University Press. Thomson, J. A. (2002). Genes for Africa: Genetically modified crops in the developing world. Cape Town: University of Cape Town Press. Webb, F. S., & Whitney, E. N. (2006). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies. Australia: Wadsworth Thomson Learning. Read More