GM crops food - Essay Example

GM food crops: Communication report The report presents the case of genetically modified (GM) food crops in the light of the issues that have ensued in the light of the fact that it is normally regarded that genetically modified products are unsafe for consumption and lead to various hazards on the climate. Thus, various quarters of the society have started staging protests including world famous organizations such as Green Peace. Thus, the report is directed to taking into consideration these points and come up with a solution to these issues in the sense that the fears from the minds of all the stakeholders have to be alleviated and made to be understood the nuances in the problems they are afraid of.

GM or genetically modified food products refer to “the practice of altering or disrupting genetic blueprints of living organisms – then patenting these altered genes, and selling the resulting gene foods, seeds, or other products for profit” (Cummins & Lilliston, 2004). Thus, it is imperative that various quarters of the society has expressed their skepticism on the issue. Various protests have taken place and a large number of reasons have also been presented by supporters of GM food products.

Hickman (2012) reports that only in the year 2003, at least 600 protests took place and this shows the magnitude of the apprehension present in the general public. Now the main stakeholders who think they are going to be adversely affected by the introduction of GM food products in the markets are Green Peace, customers or consumers of GM food products, and the farmers who use GM products to produce crops. The reasons for their apprehension are many and much of published literature on these areas focus on the harm these products may do to the society, environment as well as human beings.

However, the main stakeholders, i.e. Green Peace, customers and farmers have their respective reasons because of which they prefer not to support the introduction of GM food products. Green Peace: It is an international organization that takes up societal and environmental issues all over the world (Green Peace website, 2012). GM food products seemingly being a threat to both the society as well as the environment has therefore evoked much thought and action from Green Peace International. Customers: They are mostly the final consumers of the GM food products.

GM food products, since the production involves genetic mutation and various other processes that alter the original DNA of the products, may give rise to various terminal diseases on consumption. Though these apprehensions have not found any solid confirmation, yet people are skeptical about the havoc it may wreck on consumption. Farmers: Since they are using these products for producing crops, they are apprehensive on two grounds – firstly if the use of these products are harmful for the environment (harmful for the soil, water etc), secondly if in the face of such protests from various quarters of society they are unable to find customers for their produce.

Since there is a high level of apprehension among customers and producers alike in addition to the protest staged by various international organizations, the foremost being Greenpeace International, a poster has been prepared to dissuade Greenpeace from thinking that we are on a mission to wreck havoc in the society with GM food products. Also, an article is being written for Greenpeace International, given that they are the hardest among all the stakeholders to effectively communicate to. The organization is an international body that functions in many nations and has been instrumental in stalling many a project that may have done harm to human well being, social well being or damage to the environment.

Thus taking them into the stride seems to be the foremost of tasks for us. Also since they form one of the most important opinion leaders, they have to be persuaded effectively. Thus the article would focus on the lack of concrete scientific evidence or empirical studies that have concluded that GM food products are harmful. The ways of communication would be through public appeals such as posters, letters, articles, other publications, seminars etc that would create awareness on why GM food products may be accepted and would help persuade Greenpeace as well.

References Cummins, R & Lilliston, B 2004, ‘Genetically Engineered Food: A self defense guide for consumers’, NY: Marlowe and Company Hickman, L 2012, ‘GM crops: protestors go back to the battlefields’, The Guardian, retrieve from http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/22/gm-crops-protesters-battlefields Greenpeace International 2012, retrieve from http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/