Research Paper on The Case for GMO Foods

Introduction

In many instances, advances in technology are usually well-received. This has however, not been the case for genetically modified organisms as many people perceive them with a lot of skepticism. Many people do not understand what the process entails and are afraid of suffering any side effects which may result from the process. People's fear of consuming genetically modified foods led to the enactment of a labeling requirement for manufactured food products. The requirement enabled consumers to easily tell if a food product had been genetically engineered. The fear and mystery surrounding genetically engineered food products has prevented many individuals from realizing the benefits associated with GMOs. Genetic engineering takes place to achieve specific desired characteristics. It is a process that has traditionally been taking place for decades but many people have only come to learn of it in recent times. Genetic engineering is a process that needs to be embraced as it enables crops to be better adapted to changing environmental conditions, increases their output and their nutritional benefits.

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Genetic modification of crops is mainly done to increase their output. Insect damage is one of the contributing factors which leads to reduced crop yields. However, through genetic engineering, crops that are resistant to insect damage have been developed which has led to increased yields. Critics have continually argued that genetic engineering does not increase crop yields. However, through analyses of various peer-reviewed studies, it has been proven that indeed genetic engineering leads to increased crop output amongst other benefits. Research conducted by a group of Italian researchers on GMO corn produced very interesting findings. It was found that GMO corn varieties led to an increase in corn yields up to 24.5% compared to the non-engineered equivalents (Brody n.p). The engineered crops also had lesser percentages of mycotoxins, fumonisins and thricotecens (McDivitts n.p). Such studies illustrate how genetic engineering helps to reduce economic losses.

Genetic modification makes it possible for farmers to produce more nutritious foods. There is a constant need to produce crops which possess real benefits to humans and livestock. Crops such as tomatoes have previously been engineered to increase their anthocyanins content hence enabling them to protect against a variety of human diseases. Some varieties of rice have also been subject to genetic engineering. An example is the Golden Rice Project where varieties of rice were enriched with Vitamin A thus enabling it to prevent close to 500,000 cases of child blindness (Ackers n.p). In many developing countries, there is a deficiency or Vitamin A which has caused many deaths. Enrichment of rice with such vitamins can greatly help in alleviating such deaths. Genetic modification of foods has enabled scientists to deal with various health issues. For instance, some researchers have produced rice with higher than normal iron content. Such rice can be used to help people with iron deficiency problems. The modifications done on rice and other products illustrate how genetic engineering can be used to deal with a variety of health issues. The mystery and misunderstandings about GMO foods has made it difficult to introduce such beneficial crops to the public.

In many regions of the world, the changing climatic conditions are continuously making it hard to produce sustainable crops for consumption. Climatic changes coupled with the unprecedented population growth has exerted a lot of pressure on the agricultural industry. In regions such as California, drought is a perennial problem which has created a need to engineer crops that can withstand the harsh climatic conditions. Other areas have reported invasions of pests which seriously interferes with crop output. However, through biotechnology, scientists have developed crops that are able to withstand the changing climatic conditions hence promoting worldwide food security (Siegel and Verity n.p). Farmers are also being taught more conventional farming methods which enable them to grow and produce crops even under less desirable conditions. Continued reliance on non-engineered foods cannot guarantee food security as such crops cannot withstand the changing climatic conditions.

Many people prefer to consume crops that have been grown using fewer pesticides. The consumption of crops which have been grown using pesticides can have adverse health effects on humans which is why there has been a push to use less pesticides on crops. Genetic engineering of crops makes it possible to use less pesticides as such crops are usually fortified with new genes which enable them to fight off insect pests. The engineering of disease-resistant crops has become more common in the agricultural industry. A process known as Agrobacterium-Mediated Plant Transformation is usually used to confer resistance to many plant crops against diseases such as anthracnose crown rot, angular leaf spot and powdery mildew. In strawberries, for instance, scientists have previously overexpressed some of the crop's genes which has resulted in the crop being more resistant to common diseases such as Arabidopsis thaliana (Charles n.p). Such techniques have led to the reduced usage of fungicides in strawberry production. The technique can also be applied to other hence reducing overall pesticide usage.

The main reason why people have been skeptical about embracing GMOs is that they believe the consumption of such crops can lead to adverse health effects. This is not true as there has been no evidence linking GMO crops to negative health effects. More than 1,700 peer-reviewed studies have proven that genetically engineered crops are just as safe as the non-modified ones (Lehman n.p). Using peer-reviewed and scientific evidence, credible organizations such as the World Health Organization, The American Medical Association and the British Royal Society have concluded that genetically modified foods are just as safe as those grown under conventional means. There is a need to educate the masses on the safety and benefits of such foods so that more people can embrace them and reap the benefits. People should be made to understand that GMOs are usually tested for safety before being released into the market. The tests on such crops are usually more thorough compared to those done on crops grown under conventional means. The process of protein analysis and characterization enables researchers to identify proteins which may lead to an allergic reaction.

Conclusion

Research conducted on genetically modified foods has produced evidence which proves that GMOs are beneficial for human consumption. Genetic engineering of crops has enabled farmers to increase their crop output, grow more nutritious crops and also reduce their usage of pesticides. Studies conducted to determine the safety of GMOs have also proven that genetically modified foods are just as safe as the other crops grown under conventional means. There is an immediate need to educate the masses on the benefits of GMOs so that they can support initiatives to improve food production through genetic engineering.

Works Cited

Ackers, Kylie. "Are GMO Foods Really Bad For You?" The Food Rush, 15 Aug. 2016, www.thefoodrush.com/articles/gmo-foods-really-bad/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.

Brody, Jane E. "Are G.M.O. Foods Safe?" Breaking News, World News & Multimedia - The New York Times, 9 June 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/04/23/well/eat/are-gmo-foods-safe.html. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.

Charles, Dan. "How GMOs Cut The Use Of Pesticides ? And Perhaps Boosted It Again." NPR.org, 1 Sept. 2016, www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2016/09/01/492091546/how-gmos-cut-the-use-of-pesticides-and-perhaps-boosted-them-again. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.

Lehman, Shereen. "Can Eating GMO Foods Be Good Your Diet?" Verywell Fit, 8 Sept. 2005, www.verywellfit.com/are-gmo-foods-bad-for-your-health-2506212. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.

McDivitt, Paul. "Does GMO Corn Increase Crop Yields? 21 Years of Data Confirm It Does'and Provides Substantial Health Benefits." Genetic Literacy Project, 29 June 2018, geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/02/19/gmo-corns-yield-human-health-benefits-vindicated-21-years-studies/. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.

Siegel, Kate, and Suzanne Verity. "GMOs: Food for Thought." WebMD, 2018, www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-gmos#1. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018.