The Issue Around Genetically Modified Food, and the Future of GM Crops - Essay Example

Title: The issue around genetically modified food, and the future of GM crops Name Institution Date of submission The current issue around genetically modified food (GM) and the potential future based on this issue There is no doubt that the science around genetic engineering is advancing every day. Genetically modified food could be the best option for the future when it comes to increasing food production for the increasing population. However, the safety of the genetically modified food (GM) is questionable among scientists and researchers. Also, doctors are more concern on the contribution of genetically modified food on the changing dynamics of the diseases. Therefore, in evaluating this issue, this paper focus on the awareness by the consumers, the identity of the genetically modified food produced and the consumption rates of the genetically modified food. Awareness by the consumers The research shows that over the past two decades, various governments have become conscious of the commercial interest in the production of genetically modified food (Goldstein, 2014). Most of the food commodities produced through genetic engineering includes corn, rice and soy. Other nonfood crops include cotton and tea plants. Consumers are aware of the noticeable benefit such as crops’ ability to withstand herbicides that are used to destroy weeds, ability to resist insects and pests and faster growth and resistant to drought. According to Kruft (2001), this is a disturbing development before the researchers and doctors when it comes to the future health of the population. Consumers on the other side are more concern with their values and beliefs related to their religion or tradition. Despite the lack of awareness during the first decade after the introduction of genetically modified food, it is something to worry about in the contemporary society. The majority of the consumers are aware of the long-term consequences of consuming and perhaps growing genetically modified food. The research by Baram and Bourrier (2015) shows that some of the harm caused by genetically modified food include derivative of food products that do not provide essential elements to individuals’ body. For this reasons, therefore, genetically modified food has disclosed the need for developing policies governing agriculture. These policies are important in promoting awareness to the consumers regarding the consequences of using genetically modified food. The identity of genetically modified food The reports show that Mexicans are using transgene corns regularly (Parrott, 2010). Well, it may be fair to say that there is a successful scientific research on the development of hybrid corns in Mexico. However, the big issue will remain to be the security of genetically modified food particularly on the consequences of the gene flow. According to Gaines T.A. et al. (2010), the gene flow through genetic engineering has led to the loss of historical identities of various crops. The myth of natural food is that it was found in the wild. Therefore, the perception of the people on the natural food is that they are original, and thus the transgenes lead to contamination of these foods. Preservation of the identity of the genetically modified food is a difficulty. According to Manion & Morse (2012), since there is evidence of cross-pollination between genetically modified crops and non-GM crops, it is, therefore, difficult to prolong the life of GM crops. In this case, farmers experience pollen drift that lead to the unsolicited variety of crop products. This result to poor preservation of traditional seeds those is well reputable among the farmers. Therefore, the inability genetically modified food to protect their identity is due to the cross-pollination. This cannot make them GM-free in the market for both farmers and consumers. Genetically modified food harms other useful organisms. Despite little research on this concern, some genes such as those contained in Bt corn are harmful to larvae of butterflies during wind blowing seasons. Since butterflies and other insects are essential in cross-pollination, the required threshold of pollination may not be reached when these larvae are killed by biotechnology advances in agriculture. The consumption rate of genetically modified food As the consumption rate of genetically modified food increases, some might think that the health safety issues also arise. This perception is an anticipated outcome when there is the usage of GM food without considering the essential elements that are only found in traditional foods. For example, the regular usage of GM food would result in the lack of adequate fatty acids in the human body. It means that the health of the future population is put in danger if the contemporary society embraces the usage of GM food. According to Goldstein (2014), the regular use of GM foods causes food allergy. GM crops are allergenic compared to traditional crops, and, therefore, the food will also contain allergenic components since it has not been removed. According to Parrott (2010), doctors have also discovered the medical toxicity caused by the consistent use of GM foods. From this evaluation, it is clear that the excessive use of GM food is a risk to the health of the consumers. Therefore, this issue has called for government intervention to ensure that food safety is maintained as well as protecting the traditional crops from getting destroyed. The future of Genetically Modified food based on the food safety and environmental concern Currently, the world is in for the use of agricultural revolution to address agricultural issues. The genetically modified foods have attracted the world over the past two decades. However, cautious voices from scientific researchers and doctors try to prove the health and the environmental impacts of GM crops. According to Manion & Morse (2012), a scientific researcher, scientific revolution in agriculture could lead to unintended consequences if used for a long time. Despite the support from the technologists that GM crops could transform agriculture especially in the developing countries, the politicians and health researchers have joined hands with the government to formulate policies that could see GP crops vanish in future. The technologists may argue that the gene revolution would substantially address issues such as malnutrition, increase food security as well as increase farmers’ income. According to Baram and Bourrier (2015), these are economists’ perspective that could put in danger the health of the people the environment as well. Two decades ago, farmers in India and South Africa started planting GM crops. It then began to occur on the global scale in the last decade. The use of genetically modified crops is currently stalled because consumers, farmers and environmentalists have come up with concerns about GM crops. This has led to the development of precautionary policies that would limit the spreading of the usage of gene revolution to other countries. Notably, the use of genetically modified crops in sub-Saharan Africa has been found to threaten the health of the population. Political conditions in the world are the powerful determinants of the existence of GM crops in future (Goldstein, 2014). Back during the time of Green Revolution in United Sates, the country feared that the food crises in the world would lead to political instability. Gene Revolution was targeted to the developing world where food insecurity was likely to occur. The US government worked with many agricultural scientists to bring about green revolution through genetic engineering in developing nations. According to Brookes & Barfoot (2013), the political climate in the contemporary society does not bring strong motivation to the genetically modified crops. Rather, the political climate is commanding sustained environment and health by providing attention to the consumers about the effects of genetically modified food. As a result, the political climate has ensured that there is a public, national and international concern on the use of GM crops. This has led to the development of addressing environmental and health issues related to GM crops by use of policies and regulations. Besides, political climate also has influence many non-governmental organizations towards health and environmental sustainability as far as GM crops are concerned. Despite the success of genetically modified crops in the last two decades, policies and regulations in the contemporary society regarding food safety issues may not provide good conditions for the existence of GM crops in future (Baram and Bourrier, 2015). Developing countries are resisting gene revolution due to health and environmental concerns related to GM crops. Most of the crops in developing countries does not need the technological package to survive, and therefore gene revolution may not be appropriate for them. The future of GM crops is also affected by infrastructural problems in many countries. This is one of the barriers to gene revolution success, particularly in developing countries. According to Goldstein (2014), inadequate right defense from the government on GM facilities leave a little possibility that GM crops could survive in future. This abandonment may be because the government is not willing to secure future food security with the use of GM crops. In conclusion, the future of genetically modified crops is doomed due to the concerns regarding food safety concerns. From the technological and economical perspective, GM crops have significant benefits to the food security in future, particularly in the developing countries. According to Brookes & Barfoot (2013), it is important to develop farmers; however, the health of consumers and environment sustainability is of equally important if not more important. Therefore, the policies and regulations that promote health food consumption and environmental conservation may not support the development of GM crops but rather vanishing them away. References Baram, M., & Bourrier, M. (2015). Governing risk in GM Agriculture. New York : Cambridge University Press. Brookes, G., & Barfoot, P. (2013). The global income and production effects of genetically modified (GM) crops 1996-2011. GM Crops and Food, 4(1):74–83. Gaines, T.A. et al. (2010) Gene amplification confers glyphosate resistance in Amaranthus palmeri. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A.107, 1029–1034. Goldstein, A., D. (2014). Tempest in a Tea Pot: How did the Public Conversation on Genetically Modif ied Crops Drift so far from the Facts? Journal of Medical Toxicology, 10, 194-201. Kruft, D. (2001). Impacts of Genetically-Modified Crops and Seeds on Farmers. Legal research assistant. Pennsylvania State University. Manion, A., M., & Morse, S. (2012). Biotechnology in agriculture: agro-nomic and environmental considerations and reflections based on 15 years of GM crops. Progress Physical Geography 36(6):747–763. Parrott, W. (2014). Genetically modified myths and realities. New Biotechnology, 27(5), 545-550. Wu, F., & Butz, P., W. (2004). The future of genetically modified crops: lessons from the green revolution. Pittsburgh: Rand Corporations. Read More