Saturday, April 30, 2016

Impacts Of GMOs In Agriculture

By Susan Wilson


Genetically modified organisms are substances whose genes have been altered through genetic engineering. The process is normally done with the aid of adding proteins and chemicals into the genes of the organism. Genetic engineering has been applied in both crop production and animal rearing and led to several impacts both good and bad. Different people have divergent views concerning these GMOs in agriculture.

One advantage is that these crops are very resistant to the worst climatic conditions possible. One is assured good yield whether the rain is maximum or minimum. Additionally, these crops cannot be attacked by any pest at all. Therefore, the product expected is usually to the maximum.

Since there is no effect of pests on the crops and the crops cannot succumb to adverse weather condition there is an assurance of a high yield, and this guarantees food security to the world especially in the third world nations. The farmers cost of production is reduced and hence his income by all means possible is improved. This is because these crops are able to do well without the need of pesticides and other farming implements like fertilizers.

Worlds population grows at an alarming rate. Ensuring sufficient food supply to this growing population will mean constant deforestation to create more land space for farming. However, with these engineered crops and animals at hand, we are assured of more food production with less deforestation. Eventually, deforestation is decreased and at the same time, global warming minimized.

As the law of supply and demand stands, increased food supply due to the use of genetically modified crops and animals, it means that the price of food stuff will decrease. This means that more people will be able to afford food stuffs. New plants and animals have also been established. A good example was a baby ship called Dolly which was cloned.

Despite their positive impacts, these foods once taken make one to develop their antibiotic makers within the body. These antibiotics are responsible for most people not being productive to medication. Most children also tend to develop allergic reactions once they take these foods.

Since these foods are not 100% natural, there is the need to conduct thorough testing before the release of such products. There has been a case where a product has killed people and affects much more because of not testing it before its released to the market. These products are also not safe to eat at all. Scientific research has proven that some foods containing GMOs are not safe for some species including human beings causing illness and eventually death.

The natural taste typically lacks in genetically modified crops, and this is mainly due to the process of genetic engineering that alters the cell structure of cultivation. Another possible danger is where some genes get transferred from one species to another. Scientists argue that in the event a pesticide-resistant gene is transferred and mixes up with a weed they may for a complex pesticide resistant weed that cannot be easily killed.




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