GM foods
1.INTRODUCTION
For recent years, thanks to fast development and huge achievements of biotechnology, people have been widely applying genetically modified foods (GM foods), especially in agriculture and food industry. Therefore, the number of products manufactured with GM components will dramatically rise in the next few years. A variety of different controversies show that there are some disadvantages from genetic modification, which makes people wonder whether GM foods should be prohibited. This paper aims to investigate the benefits of GM foods on agricultural products, environment and the society.
2.DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
2.1. Definition of genetically modified foods
In spite of being in mobile society, many people still have confused knowledge about the term GM foods and the question here is: What are GM foods? According to Genetically modified food, [online] available at URL: (Accessed 14 November 2007): “Genetically modified foods are foodstuffs produced from genetically modified organisms (GMO) that have had their genome altered through genetic engineering”. For example, a hormone has been shown to boost milk production in cows by up to 25 percent and help normal salmon arrived at mature weight in 10-12 months instead of 3-4 years (David Krogh, 2001, p.297). In brief, genetic modification is a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of such living organisms as animals, plants, or bacteria.
2.2. The impacts of genetically modified foods to agricultural products
Firstly, advocates of genetic engineering believe the advances being made with regard to GM foods offer a way to quickly improve crop characteristics. This technology focuses on increasing the yield of various foods and creating products with superior qualities. For instance, “Researcher at the Wisconsin firm Agracetus, Inc., are inserting genes code for enzymes that synthesize linked esters (polyesters), making the cotton fibers tougher and more elastic than those produced by un-engineered cotton plants” (Raven and Johnson, 1986 , p.451). Furthermore, consumers, of course do not want to eat food that has been treated by many tons of chemical pesticides and herbicides annually because of potential health hazards. In this situation, Peter H. Raven and George B. Johnson (1986) affirmed that genetic engineers attempted to produce plants such as tomato, potato… that were naturally resistant to insect pests and weeds, thereby removing the need for many externally applied insecticides or herbicides and they did it successfully. Together with plants, many different animals which have been genetically modified may also benefit agriculture. Researchers can modify animals to produce extra proteins in their milk. Improving the nutritional content of cow’s milk, for example, could help both humans and animals combat famine. Based on given information above, humans may benefit greatly by consuming GM foods because obviously these foods will be healthier, more nutritious, and even safer.
2.3. Environment impacts of genetically modified foods
Secondly, genetically modified foods also have a great influence on environment. Genetically modified crops that allow reduction in insecticides could have a positive effect in terms of environmental impacts. There has been a steady fall in the use of herbicides and insecticides since the application of GM foods. Genetically modified plants which can kill any kind of insect pests without harming beneficial insects or the environment will soon pop up in farmers’ fields. As long as the GM foods do no harm to our healthy, using them is a wise method to converse our environment. On the other hand, a mass production can be made with the development of the GM foods. With the same cultivated surface, there has been much more produces which have not been attacked by pestilent insects. Therefore, many area of cultivated land can gradually be saved with the great fertility of the soil. An annual audit of GM crops – GM foods by the ISAAA (International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications) which is funded largely by the GM industry, says 85 percent of the savings come from the fact that farmers growing weed killer-resistant GM crops do not have to plough their fields to get rid of weeds, so organic matter in the soil is not exposed to the atmosphere. This, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, prevents the release of 300 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year per hectare. The GM foods and GM crops bring us so many advantages, so genetic engineering is the good way not only to converse our environment but also to save our natural resources.
2.4. The effects of genetically modified foods on human
Last but not least, GM foods should be approved to help increase food security for growing population and provide a cheap source of human therapeutics. Review of research on biotechnology showed that genetically engineered crop plants may allow us to increase global food production to supply the burgeoning world population, which is predicted to reach 10.7 billion by the year 2030 (Biology understanding life, 1993). Improvements in agricultural practices and technologies have achieved huge successes in helping to meet the food, feed and fiber needs of this growing population. Besides, scientists are also hoping to produce edible vaccines. These vaccines would be produced inside a genetically modified plant as it grows. For example, an edible vaccine against Hepatitis B, Norwalk virus, from a genetically modified sweet potato, has been developed. Vaccines produced in this way can be shipped, stored, and administered at a low cost to patients in poorer countries. They also raise hope of widespread inoculation in developing countries. In short, GM foods offer additional opportunities to increase global food security and play an important role to help the poor.
3. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, genetic engineering, which is being used in a variety of ways in the food industry, focuses on increasing the yields of various foods and creating products with superior qualities. Also, GM foods have the potential to solve the world’s malnutrition problems and to help protect the environment by reducing reliance upon chemical insecticides. Despite a lot of argument against the application of GM foods, it is recommended that the governments should pay more attention to these foods so that they can be widely accepted and mass-produced in every country, especially in developing ones where farming methods need modernizing.
REFERENCES
Alters (1983), Biology understanding Life, The Unity and Diversity of Organisms (pp.698 – 701)
Beryl Brintnall Simpson &Molly Conner Ogorzaly (1999), Economic Botany Plants in Our World (2nd Ed.), Uses of Plants in the future (pp.660-664)
Cecie Starr (1990), Biology concepts and application, Principles of Inheritance (pp.168 – 170)
David Krogh (2001), Biology aguide to the natural world, chapter 15 biology (pp.288 – 299)
Human Genome Project Information, Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from
Peter H.Raven & George B.Johnson (1986), Biology (4th Ed.), Gene Technology and the Marketplace (pp.450 – 457), Mc Graw-Hill,Inc
Ricki Lewis (1976), Human Genetics Concepts and Applications (3rd Ed.), Agricultural and Environmental Biotechnology (pp.341 – 356), Mc Graw-Hill, Inc
Whitman,d.b, Natural Miracles: What functional foods can do for you?, Genetically modified foods: Harmful or Helpful?. Retrieved November 13, 2007, from
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Genetically modified food. Retrieved November 14, 2007, from
![order now](https://nursinghomeworkhelps.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/order-now.jpg)