Genetically Modified Foods - Essay Example

Genetically Modified Foods Introduction In the modern world, technology has continued to influence people’s lifestyle patterns in a great way. Besides social economic and physiological changes among others that have been witnessed due to technology, health patterns and behavior have also received a fair share of the same influence under various kinds of technology (Schubert, 2008). Scientific research has introduced the idea of genetically modified foods, which are continuing to be popular across the world, although different arguments have been raised about them. Genetically modified foods, also known as GM foods refers to those kinds of foods that are made from organisms, which have had certain changes initiated in their particular DNA by use of scientifically methods in genetic engineering (Çabuk & Tanrikulu, 2014). Through these techniques, it has been easy to have a greater level of control on the genetic structure of foods, something that could not have happened initially using mutation and selective breeding. It is important to realize that the commercial sale of these genetically modified foods has been in existence for approximately two decades, having been first introduced in 1994, when Caglene began marketing its flavr Savr (Schubert, 2008), which delayed the process of ripening tomatoes. Currently, most of the genetic modifications that have been done on foods gave centered on cash crops that farmers demand highly like corn, canola, soybeans among others (Schubert, 2008). These crops have been engineered in such a way that they are resistant to herbicides and pathogens; additionally their nutritional profile is also high. Besides crops, efforts have also been made by scientists in order to experiment on GM livestock, which are also important sources of foods and of economic value. This paper examines some of the sociological effects and psychological considerations for these foods as projected by people in different places across the world, focusing on the arguments that continue to be raised for and against the use of these foods. Perspectives on Genetically Modified Foods Currently, a broad-based scientific consensus exists over foods in the market, which have been derived from genetic modifications that they have no threats and health concerns on the life of humans and other beings that consume them. However, some opponents to the idea of genetic modification have refuted these concepts, basing their arguments on various safety issues, economic and environmental concerns. They have emphasised that the economic concerned raised about these foods emanate from the fact that the genetically modified seeds are foods sources, which are subject to the intellectual property rights as owned by the respective corporations that make them (Rotman, 2014). Plants that have been genetically engineered are often generated from the laboratory through alteration made in their genetic compositions and tested effectively if they contain the desired qualities. In most cases, this happens through addition of one or many genes in their particular genomes by use of genetic engineering methodologies. Some of the plants that are genetically modified are done in certain controlled ways through addition of more genes in a process called cloning or some genes are subtracted from them. Nowadays, genetic modification is often carried out in order to make plants resistant to insects, viri, fungi and herbicides. Additionally, these modifications are also aimed at changing the nutritional content of these plants, improving their taste and duration for storage after harvest. After the satisfactory plants have been produced, their seeds are effectively gathered so that the companies in charge of their production cab apply for their regulatory approval to test them in the fields. When the seeds have finally been proved to be successful in the fields, the companies producing them are expected to apply for regulatory approval again in order to market the crops to other places. After getting the approval, the seeds are then produced in mass and sold to many farmers across the world. When the farmers plant and harvest these seeds, they of they often have the genes that had been added and the nutritional content (Schubert, 2008). The farmers then package and sell these foods in those markets that permit their sale and distribution. Psychological considerations and sociological effects For a long time, psychologists have made observations that a certain continuum exists in what people often perceive as being natural and unnatural. One of the famous psychologists on this subject, Robert Sternberg, explained in 1982 that the natural is what people find to be more familiar while that which is unnatural, in most cases, tends to be novel (Çabuk & Tanrikulu, 2014). It is often experientially and perceptually unfamiliar as well as very complex; for this reason, cognitive efforts are needed in its proper understanding. That which is natural is regarded as inherently positive, something that is not the case with the unnatural. Robert explained that anything which has any forms of human manipulation is regarded as being highly unnatural like the genetically modified foods in as much as these foods are common in several grocery shelves (Mitchel, 2014). Just like Michael Specter pointed out, agricultural history is the history of people making efforts in breeding animals and seeds to produce certain traits we want in crops and all types of livestock (Poppy, 2004). With emergence of different forms of transgenic technologies, new methods of improving agronomic performance for food crops and processing have emerged. In the same way, the potential to express various foreign genes by use of transgenic technologies has effectively opened options in the production of large amounts of commercially significant foods and pharmaceutical products (Poppy, 2004). Despite all these seemingly good advantages, genetically modified have elicited a great debate about their environmental and social impacts. One of the major issues with these foods is their potential of contaminating the environment and other foods chains. So far, there is a comprehensive consideration being made about how the molecules that these foods produce can be contained and isolated effectively (Spooner, 2015). It is thought that scientists should first make an effective consideration of the risks and benefits of these foods before releasing them for use. For this reason, it is important that a reliable framework that is internationally harmonized should be put in place in order to handle these foods and crops without any social and environmental hazards. The perceptions and fear factor of genetically modified foods In most of the industrialized nations, consumers enjoy wide varieties of foods, following the increased availability of organic foods and those from biotechnology. After the introduction of genetically modified foods in 1996, their demand has continued to explode in these countries (Poppy, 2004). Because of the increased adoption of these foods many of the processed in the United States is believed to have genetically modified ingredients. It is therefore important to recognize the fast growing organic industry, which has continued to see many retail products in most of the retail food stores across the United States and other European nations. For this reason, it is believed that this industry is bound to increase by more than 50 percent by the year 2020 in the United States alone (Spooner, 2015). Both organic and genetically modified foods have thus been enjoying wide acceptance from consumers and firms that produce them. As a fear factor, the genetically modified foods present a certain irony; sections of consumers have been expressing their desire to have foods that do not have any kinds of genetic modifications. On the other hand, producers have continued to make many of these foods available in the markets without any notable market reactions against them. On the organic front, the challenge has been that processing and production of these foods is very expensive, for this reasons, the foods resulting are supposed to be effectively maintained (Rotman, 2014). The demand for genetically modified foods has been phenomenon, even when the respective prices for these foods have been rated on the premium level. However, the respective additional costs are supposed to be met by the higher market premiums for this reason, evidence shows that price sensitivity as far as organic foods are concerned can happen to be high in the retail stores. There are sections of people who argue that genetically modified foods contain some chemicals that can be cancerous when they stay in the body for a long time, something that reduces their demand and uptake (Mitchel, 2014). Some research findings have indicated that the increasing obesity levels among teenagers in the United States and some other countries in Europe is largely because of the fast foods in retail outlets (Mitchel, 2014). Most of which are genetically modified. Additionally, many people that have reported cases of cancer, they have been using these foods for a long time, with suggestions that the chemical components in these foods reduces an individual’s immune system despite the massive campaigns by the producing companies that they are safe for human consumption (Landsman, 2013). This raging controversy is believed to deeply affect the production and sale of these foods in some countries that still depend on the production and sale of inorganic foods. Media influences on Genetically Modified Foods The media has played an essential role in enhancing the popularity and consumption of genetically modified foods. The media has been publishing various research findings about genetically modified foods, something that has been though as influential in the people’s decision making about the consumption of these foods (Rotman, 2014). Various articles have been published about scientific arguments for against these foods, helping people to make informed choices about the consumption and use of these foods (Landsman, 2013). Culturally, genetically modified foods have not found major acceptance in most communities across the world because of their preference to foods that they produce conventionally (Çabuk & Tanrikulu, 2014). Most of these communities especially in Africa have continued to resist from genetically modified foods because of the perceptions that they pose health hazards to people. Attempts are being made in order teach most of these communities about the benefits of using these plants in most of the desert stricken areas (Landsman, 2013). With globalisation, it is believed that some of these cultures that are showing resistance to genetically modified foods will soon adopt the innovation. Conclusion In conclusion, globalisation can be seen as an influential tool that is responsible for many of the changes taking place in peoples social and economic dimensions of life. While genetically modified foods have been thought as the best remedy to the changing environmental patterns, controversy continues to emerge over its health and environmental concerns. The media is believed to the most effective tool that will help to remove any myths and perceptions held about genetically modified foods or their inn effectiveness in addressing the ever increasing global food crisis. While these foods have been used in different places, especially the industrialized nation without major incidents being reported, the same can happen to cultures that still show resistance to it. References Çabuk, S., & Tanrikulu, C. (2014). The role of perceived risk, uncertainty avoidance and innovativeness in willingness to buy Genetically Modified Foods. Cag University Journal of Social Sciences, 11(1), 100-122. Landsman, J. (2013).Monsanto and GMO lies revealed. Retrieved from: http://www.naturalnews.com/041559_Monsanto_GMOs_lies.html# Mitchel, T. (2014). Are Genetically Modified Foods Safe?. Retrieved from: Poppy, G. M. (2004). Gene flow from GM plants--towards a more quantitative risk assessment. Trends in biotechnology, 22(9), 436-438. Rotman, D. (2014). Why we will need genetically modified foods. Technology Review, 117(1), 28-37. Schubert, D. R. (2008). The problem with nutritionally enhanced plants. Journal of medicinal food, 11(4), 601-605. Spooner, S. (2015).There is war over Genetically Modified foods, but they might just 'save' Africa. Retrieved from: Read More