Genetically Modified Crops as Long-Lasting Solutions to Hunger - Essay Example

Genetic modified Crops ; A long – lasting solutions to Hunger Our world is shrinking in matter of food resource but population is on the other side exploding. Now, some part of the world is engulfed with food while some part is under starvation and famine. World hunger is one of the most serious and urgent problems humans are facing at the present moment. The global natural resources are diminishing at a fast rate and demand for food is growing. Rapid climate change is also affecting the production of food and certain regions are in food scarce and malnutrition and famine is the result. How can we stop this phenomenon, reduce population rate, well it is not an easy task. How about renewing the way we produce food so as to fight hunger rate. Now, let us discuss an interesting topic which is genetically modified crops. Genetic modified crops are the best answer to the world hunger and for meeting the growing demand for food among the growing population. ( Thesis) More than 800 million people are undernourished in the world and genetic modified crops can be a blessing to the humans. Genetic modified crops is not an unheard scientific concept ,but less has been investigated and applied in relation to farming with this scientific invent. So what is genetically modified crops? Well genetically modified crops are raised from organisms which has genetically modified DNA. A gene from different organism is introduced in their DNA in order to add a new trait in them. What is Genetic Modified Crops? Genetically modified crops are produced by traditional selection breeding and through scientific modification of crops. For example pest resistant plants, crops resistant to climatic condition or resistant to chemical agents are some of the outcome. Now that we have understood what are genetically modified crops let us see what happens with it. One of the GM crop is pesticide resistant rape plant .When scientist introduced pesticide resistant rape plant it was not affected by chemicals sprayed on it. These plants can survive against pesticide which increases their yield. Genetic modifying is technologies which can aid in increase of food crops as well enhance its nutritional content. The GM technology is very good in breeding food crops with more contents in micronutrients. For example, Golden Rice with provitamin A in the grain. Is one of the genetic modified grains? Golden rice is genetically modified rice which contains abundant amount of Vitamin A. Since beta carotene is introduced in the rice it has an orange color. According to ( IRRI,2013) “Golden Rice is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene, a source of vitamin A”. Although some GM crops are not yet in the market, evidence show that vitamin A could reduce nutritional deficiency among people. Vitamin deficiency is one of the urgent problems of millions of people through world. The earliest sign of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness which could result in permanent blindness and can also lead to many other infections as measles and pneumonia. So, in cases like this crops which are nutrient enriched like Golden rice could be a big boon. Another highlight of GM crops is that it can be used in small scale farming in developing countries. Most GM can be found in developing countries especially Latin America. The best part of GM crops is that they can be cultured to be resistant to pest and insects. This means insecticides are going out of scene and this means fertilizer efficiency and toxin free crops .One of such GM crops is sweet corn .This sweet corn produces a poison by itself which can kill harmful insects. Apart from this, the nutrient content is also high and this means double benefit. As per (Better Health, 2011) “Genetic engineering can be used to increase amounts of particular nutrients like vitamins). Another one is the genetically engineered wheat with high Glue hydrogenise which yielded 30 % more crop with same amount fertilizer than the normal crops. Research into this technique, sometimes called nutritional enhancement, is now at an advanced stage. However, their advantages are seemingly very higher on the positive sides. Some of them is that they are cost effective , there is a less use of pesticide and gives higher crop yields. These are more income to farmers, less starvation. It is not that, the disadvantages are not looked at. Some of the controversies on GM crops are is it can harm other organisms; it has an unnatural taste and can also repel insects and pests which mean disrupting ecosystem. As per ( Science Daily,2007 ) “Study by an Indiana University environmental science professor and several colleagues suggests a widely planted variety of genetically engineered corn has the potential to harm aquatic ecosystems’. There is concern among people that GM crops can be critical to the life on earth. It is mainly due to the fact that it is produced against the will of nature. Scientists are indeed, mixing up genes in order to find the super crop. However, it is not the first time humans are finding a super breed whether it is animals or birds. If we can succeed with cloning, then GM crop is a big invention. Ultimately, it is the nature mimicking itself, as nothing outside nature which can harm human is being added to the crops. When it comes to eco system, it might seem that we are disrupting the nature course of action. But nature is unbelievingly adaptable and these insects and pests would find other sources which can be more appetizing to them. According to ( Scholderer,2002) “For example, a plant might have its genes modified to make it resistant to a particular plant disease, to improve its food quality, or to help it grow faster” and “Some European researchers think there are new ways of controlling common diseases in apples – things like scab and mildew”. Or they may evolve their food habits as nothing is more evolutionary conscious that Mother Nature. And not all insects and pests live on crops; there is ample food on trees, wild plants and water for them to survive. So such controversies have no much life unless one thinks from one angle. Genetically modified crops are a new turn in scientific history and have a long way to go. It does have many benefits to offer to countries which have starving population. It also can save cost, time and effort of the new generation. As per (Halford,2000,pg 62-73) “A current limitation to plant genetic modification is that only some of the cells in the target tissue are genetically modified, irrespective of the method of transfer. It is, therefore, necessary to kill all of the cells that are not modified and this requires that the gene of interest be accompanied by at least one other gene that acts as a selectable marker”. Some of it disadvantages need to be overlooked as it can be corrected by humans with some effort. So genetically modified crops are a boon to mankind, who is looking out for newer sources of food to accommodate the growing population. As per (Qaim,2009,pg.665-694 )“ In general, available studies suggest that second-generation GM foods will be more acceptable to consumers than first-generation products”. Conclusion GM crops are a promising invention of science and we need to put all efforts to bring it into practicality. Many countries like Germany, UK and USA are on its way to farming with Genetic technology. And, it is most needed in developing and under developed nations to combat hunger and famine. Many crops like Golden rice, sweet corn, GM wheat can change the face of agricultural farming. References Halford, N. J. (2000). Genetically modified crops: methodology,. British Medical Bulletin, 56(1), 62-73. IRRI, . (2013). Golden Rice. In http://www.irri.org. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&task=category&id=764:golden-rice-at-irri&lang=en Qaim, M. (2009). The Economics of Genetically Modified Crops. The Annual Review of Resource Economics, 12(3), 665-694. Scholderer, J. (2012). Genetically Modified Crop Production:Social Sciences, Agricultural Economics,. vdf Hochschulverlag, 59(3), 1-64. Science Daily, . (2007). Genetically Engineered Corn Could Harm Aquatic Ecosystems. In http://www.scien cedaily.com. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http:// www.sciencedaily.c om/releases/2 007/10/0 71008171 030.htm Better Health Channel, . (2011). Genetically Modified Foods . In http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Genetically_modified_foods Read More