Benefits Genetic Engineering in Food Production - Essay Example

Benefits Genetic Engineering in Food Production As the global population grows to unprecedented levels, so does the demand for sustainable food supply especially in the agricultural sector. In the ancient times, humans embraced the natural techniques of farming and breeding, which worked well but heavily depended on the prevailing weather conditions (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 51). This being the case, scientists in the biotechnology sector have been working hard in order to come up with new species of crops that are more resistant to climatic conditions hence ensuring food security for the whole world (Freedman 44). Although many biotechnologists and organizations have proposed the use of genetically modified organisms in curbing world hunger, the technique of food production has faced an equal measure of opposition from the resilient and concerned quarters (Teitel and Wilson 36). Although the use of genetically modified foods may have certain shortcomings, the global population should embrace the technique fully to ensure sustainable food production and hence global food security. Essentially, genetically modified foods are foods that have undergone genetic engineering aimed at altering their DNA in order to improve their overall productivity (Freedman 45). Since the process completely changes the DNA, the resulting crop is extremely resistant to drought and diseases in addition to producing high yields when compared to the original crop (Teitel and Wilson 36). While the process started long ago, the commercial selling of GMOs commenced in 1994. Currently, the genetically modified foods are majorly from the plant origin although there are prospects of coming up with such kinds of animals species soon. Perhaps it is important to note that during the genetic modification, a new gene from another species is introduced into the plant species in order to come up with a completely new combination of genes in the new crop (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 51). Despite the fact that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have numerous advantages, it faces sharp criticisms from various quarters who claim that it has adverse effects on both the environment and human health (Freedman 44). Indeed, the genetically modifies organisms interfere with the natural environment thereby causing imbalance in the ecosystem (Forman 27). Due to their drought and disease resistant nature, the genetically modified foods consume all the nutrients form the soil thus depriving the surrounding natural crops the required amounts on nutrients to flourish. In this regard, it is vital to weigh the effects against the benefits of the genetically modified foods before any concrete decision is made on a new crop (Teitel and Wilson 37). Owing to the rapid trends in climate change, the world has been on a constant lookout for any threats to food security and available options of increasing the crop yield. Luckily, genetic engineering has provided the solution to the constant droughts in various parts of the world that more often accentuate the hunger situation (Teitel and Wilson 46). The technique of genetically modified foods is intended to change the genetic structure of the natural crop to be able to survive the harshest of growing conditions. In this case, there is no need of using such natural methods as mutual and selective breeding. In essence, the commercial exploitation of genetic engineering began in the year 1994 with the main cash crops being soybeans, cottonseed oil, and corn (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 51). Although experiments are currently ongoing to modify the animal species to be drought and disease resistant, none of the genetically modifies animals is in the market (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 28). Perhaps the first advantage of using the genetically modified foods is the fact that they can be used to cleanse the environment through phytoremediation. In this case, it is vital to understand that some genetically modified crops can be used exclusively for research and environmental purposes as opposed to subsistence purposes. Biotechnologists can use such crops to clean the heavily polluted ground water by sucking up the heavy metals trapped inside the soil (Freedman 44). Though a vast majority of the world population are yet to adopt the use of genetic engineering in their food production, it is evident that this technique numerous benefits than the conventional cash crops (Teitel and Wilson 47). Fundamentally, the genetically modified foods are a product of extreme genetic engineering that enables higher crop yields than the conventional crops. It is clear to everyone the adverse effects that climate change through global warming can cause to certain regions of the world (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 28). Due to the ravaging impact of climate change, certain regions in the world have been rendered barren and infertile while others turning into arid. This situation calls for the use of drought resistant species in such regions in order to ensure maximum yield of crops. Indeed, the genetically modified foods have proved worthwhile in this regard especially considering the enormous yield it can sustain in the drought stricken regions (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 52) Additionally, the use of genetically modified organisms especially the crops enables the flourishing of crops even in pest infested and disease-ravaged environments (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 24). Essentially, the genetically modified cash crops are highly resistant to pests and diseases due to their complex structure of DNA that raises their immunity (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 51). As such, genetically modified foods can grow virtually on any soil irrespective of the climatic or environmental conditions. Perhaps the low crop yield experienced in most parts of the world is because of pests and diseases, which ravage the existing crops killing most of the plants. With the adoption of genetic modifies engineering that enables the production of genetically modified foods, the poor yields resulting from pest infestation and diseases will be outdated (Teitel and Wilson 47). Perhaps another advantage of the genetically modified foods is that they contain additional nutrients that are rare in ordinary crops (Freedman 49). Certainly, the ordinary crops such as rice may not contain all the required nutrients to nourish the population but with a bit of genetic engineering, the required quantities of vitamins can be injected into the DNA of the GMO in order to provide a balanced diet for the population. For instance, the Swiss Institute of Plant Technology has come up with the ‘golden rice’ that incorporates Vitamin A in its nutrients thus enhancing the nourishing properties of the genetically modified food (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 25). Since malnourishment is a big problem especially in the developing nations, the genetically modified foods offer better farming alternative that will ensure the global population get the required nutrients from such unique crops. Perhaps it is important to mention that this will be particularly important for the lactating women and children owing to their great demand for good nourishment (Freedman 44). Lastly but more importantly, the genetically engineered crops can offer additional medicinal functions owing to the ease with which it can reach many people (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 28). Traditionally, the administering of vaccines and other medicines has proved to be a daunting task especially in the third world where infrastructural challenges are enormous. Fortunately, genetic engineering has enables the storage of vaccines and other medicines in the genetically modified foods such as the tomatoes hence vaccinations can occur across the globe through the consumption of such genetically modified organisms (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 51). This can indeed help in medical research in addition to enhancing the global healthcare system. Therefore, the use of genetically modified foods ought to be highly encouraged in order to have a self-sufficient and sustainable world if the millennium development goals are to be realized sooner than later. This will also promote food security world over as it is the case with the US and Brazil that have fully embraced the food production technology (Teitel and Wilson 47). While the genetically modified foods have numerous advantages I their sides, there are significant criticisms facing the same crop with most of them pointing to health and environmental hazards (Freedman 65). When it comes to environmental risks, several environmental activists and professional associations have strongly come out against the continued use of GM products (Brunk and Coward 82). Essentially, genetic engineering has been proved to cause high mortality rate in insect larvae in addition to reducing the efficacy of pesticides, as some mosquitoes develop high resistance to pesticides. Moreover, the process is susceptible to the transfer of unintended genes to certain crops leading to the production of super weeds and other adamant crops (McHughen 32). When it comes to the classification of the genetically modified foods as human health hazards, a number of grave concerns surface ranging from allergies to unknown effects (Brunk and Coward 72). Since the introduction of genetically modified foods in the US and Europe, a number of children have been diagnosed with extreme allergies from consuming foods peanuts due to the supposed allergens introduced into the crop. Allergenicity is a serious problem with the genetically modified foods especially in children where it can sometimes be life threatening (McHughen 31). Besides, there are other adverse effects unknown to man, of consuming the genetically engineered foods. This is especially so going by various studies of feeding GM potatoes to rats that proved futile by interfering with their digestive tracts. If this was to happen to human beings, the consumption of GMOs could be life threatening and therefore there is need to stop the usage of such products until further research proves otherwise (Santaniello, Evenson, and Zilberman 63). Although the use of genetically modified foods may appear to cause danger to the environment, it is important to understand that the environmental hazard that the GMOs pose do not supersede that posed by the continual use of conventional crops (Freedman 44). Principally, the use of genetically modified foods involves extreme engineering by specialists who ensure that few cases, if any, of mishaps occur during and after the research and implementation (Evenson 39). In this regard, organisms that may fall victim to such technology may be because of their genetic predisposition to certain elements and not just because of the genetic engineering (Carter, Moschini, and Sheldon 28). Moreover, the consumption of genetically engineered foods has been in existence for the past decade and no casualties nor extreme cases have been reported because of the good intentioned undertaking. This being the case, there is a strong conviction that the harm that the GNOs cause to human health is insignificant considering the few casualties of allergenicity. When it comes to unknown effects to human beings, it is would be appropriate to avoid speculation especially based on an issue related to food security (Freedman 48). In conclusion, the rapid transformation of the world has led to increased demand of food for the growing population, which in turn has led to the advent of the genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Indeed, genetic engineering has significantly recued hunger especially in countries where it has been fully adopted thereby ensuring food security for such nations. In addition, genetically modified crops can grow on any land hence there is no excuse for any country to blame poor crop yields on droughts and pests. All the same, the benefits that come with the GMOs far outweigh its shortcomings, as there is no perfect process or project on earth. Works Cited Brunk, Conrad G, and Harold G. Coward. Acceptable Genes?: Religious Traditions and Genetically Modified Foods. Albany, N.Y: SUNY Press, 2009. Print. Carter, Colin, Giancarlo Moschini, and Ian M. Sheldon. Genetically Modified Food and Global Welfare. Bingley, UK: Emerald, 2011. Print. Evenson, Robert E. Consumer Acceptance of Genetically Modified Foods. Wallingford: CABI Pub, 2004. Print. Forman, Lillian E. Genetically Modified Foods. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub, 2010. Print. Freedman, Jeri. Everything You Need to Know About Genetically Modified Foods. New York: Rosen Pub. Group, 2002. Print. McHughen, Alan. Pandora's Picnic Basket: The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. Santaniello, V, Robert E. Evenson, and David Zilberman. Market Development for Genetically Modified Foods. Wallingford, Okon, UK: CABI, 2001. Print. Teitel, Martin, and Kimberly A. Wilson. Genetically Engineered Food: Changing the Nature of Nature. Rochester VT: Park Street Press, 2001. Print. Read More