Food Biotechnology - The Production and Growth of Vegetables and Fruits - Assignment Example

Food Biotechnology - The Production and Growth of Vegetables and FruitsAdvantagesBiotechnology enables farmers to plant crops without the application of a lot of chemicals, herbicides and pesticides since the GM crops already have inputs of protecting them from pests and diseases. This signifies that GM produce are environment friendly. GM crops spare the environment unlike the normal crops, which need a bundle of herbicides or pesticides to be sprayed on them that afterwards harm the environment (Liles, 2011).

The cost of planting crops, due to biotechnology, has eased since the need for herbicides and pesticides has also decreased. This has enhanced efficiency in the field of farming and condensed the overall cost. This also means that customers will not to have to use a lot funds for food because the cost of producing is less (Liles, 2011).Using biotechnology in both the production and growth of vegetables and fruits has allowed scientists to modify the way fruits and vegetables ripen. Normally, vegetables and fruits continue to mature after harvesting (Liles, 2011).

Therefore, they must be rushed to the marketplace and sold fast while they are fresh. Genetically produced fruits and vegetables can be collected when ripe. After they are harvested, the ripening process stops. This gives the fruits and vegetables a longer shelf life than the organically produced fruits (Liles, 2011). These genetic modifications also boost a plant's resistance to pests, disease, herbicides, insecticides or even severe weather conditions. Genetic manufacturing has also altered a plant's dietetic makeup, making it richer in various minerals or vitamins than organically produced fruits.

DisadvantagesIn spite of harvesting countless of genetically produced plants, experts still do not have a comprehensible understanding of how these genetic modifications affect the human body on the long run. This is because these food stuffs have been accessible since the early 90’s (Liles, 2011). Monsanto, the main GM seed developer in the globe and the institute that offers most research answers to the FDA, argues that the GM seed is undamaging to humans. Nevertheless, some experts have found that GM plants have, in reality, altered the life span of humans.

The GM plants have also caused diseases to insects and also altered their cognitive abilities, which feed on these plants. Another disadvantage is that the genes might be transmitted to other crops that they are not planned to go in and lead to difficulties since the transmission of the genes would not be recognized (Liles, 2011). Consumers might get an allergic response to the food when they eat food that is contaminated with the bacteria or gene transmitted via cross-pollination unintentionally.

Finally, Seeds of GM crops are also quite higher in cost, so the deprived farmers have a hard time accessing them.The advantages of biotechnology outweigh the disadvantages. It is, in reality, significant to increase the manufacture of food to meet the urges of a growing populace. Numerous implications are beneficial to the normal consumer as GM crops reduce the cost of purchasing food, as well as using dangerous chemicals to produce food organically. The cost of planting crops, due to biotechnology, has eased since the need for herbicides and pesticides has also decreased.

This has also led to the decrease of food prices as biotechnology has reduced the cost of production.ReferenceLiles, V. (2011). Advantages & disadvantages of biotechnology on food health. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/420088-advantages-disadvantages-of-biotechnology-on-food-health/