Genetically Modified Organisms (original) (raw)

Technology and Food Needs: GMOs for GFN: Genetically Modified Organisms and Global Food Needs

sustainability, 2004

Global forces increasingly lead us to invoke technological solutions to social, environmental, health and most other problems. In agricultural terms, the last time that the world seemed destined to run out of food, the Green Revolution successfully applied technologies that averted disaster. These technologies may be grouped as irrigation, fertiliser and genetic manipulation, the first two of which seem to offer little further prospect for increasing food production unless the genetic potential of crops and animals is further improved. Accordingly, new breeding technologies are the focus of much research that purports to offer hope to the potentially food insecure regions of the world. So, those who advocate the development and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) claim, among other benefits, the potential for improving the nutrition of poorer countries. Outside the public fear campaigns and quasi-debates that surround the introduction of GMOs into Western diets and environments, there remains a need for honesty and distance from vested interests among scientists. The potential of GMOs includes; accelerating genetic change from the generational time-lines of traditional breeding, accelerating or retarding ripening and maturation processes, and controlling spoilage rates to suit harvesting, processing, distribution and retailing demands, as well as potential super-profits to

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS: A SOLUTION TO FOOD SECURITY AND ENVIRONMENT

The concern of food security and environment sustainability is having high priority due to huge population and alarming prices of commodity worldwide. International organisations are trying hard to find ways to remove hunger, poverty, and health issues. The per capita availability of food remains stagnant as the world's population is increasing, and any attempt to decrease poverty is further increasing demand for food. By 2050 world population will reach up to 9.5 billion but world seems inefficient to feed them. Generally, Asian and African agriculture is a gamble of monsoon which is highly erratic. Further, farmers are using different types of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizer etc. to increase production which are directly and indirectly influence the food quality and environmental sustainability. The goal of the paper is to show an alternative arrangement that the GMOs have potential to offer nutritious food as well maintain the environmental sustainability through analysing the present data of countries which adopted GMOs technique. In the 21st century Biotechnology has applied as one of the eco-friendly-technology. Many developed countries have opted to incorporate the technology to improve their productivity. One such way to meet the demand is by using Genetically Modified food (GM food). GM foods are produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. The paper attempts to suggest that scientists, policymakers, experts and farmers should collaborate to find new and creative ways to increase food production to arrange the growing demand of food in a sustainable way. The growing constraints of land and water availability, technological inventions could use for providing more sustainable and nutritious alternative for the coming generations.

Genetically modified organisms and their critics

The potential benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) used for food purposes include reduced costs of production, reduced use of agro-chemicals and increased shelf life. In view of the novelty of these constructs, there are numerous unresolved scientific issues about their safety, their impact on the environment etc. In addition, the drawbacks include significant and potentially disastrous reduction in food security in the developing world. The agenda for the debate over genetically modified organisms is dominated by multinational companies with vested interests in the successful marketing of these products, although research is conducted by a wide rage of institutions. However, they are now opposed by a coalition pressure groups, some of whom favour direct action and others putting forward crypto-religious objections which may act to undermine legitimate scientific concerns and the debate has thus become polarised. The major issue for developing countries is food security; claims that GMOs will address world hunger are distinctly spurious. The impact of a radical shift in crop ecology is greater in less developed countries where loss of a crop can lead to disaster.

Insight into the Genetically Modified Foods: Concerns of Safety to Food Development (Part II)

Science Insights, 2016

There are a lot of non-­-food uses of GM plants like timber, use to manufacture paper, in the chemical industry and as biofuels. Pharmaceuticals made from pro-­-teins can be made from GM plants. Plant tissues in the processed shape can be used potentially as edible vaccines. According to an estimate, 250 acres of green-­-house space can be enough to let the GM potatoes grow and meet the annual demand of hepatitis B vaccine in the whole South East Asia. Any harmful effect on the environment through large-­-scale growth of GM plants can indirectly show impacts upon human health. GM plants are also evaluated on the basis of how they might have a constructive role to perform in the environment by partial re-­-moval of contaminants-a practice often termed as phytoremediation. A lot of NGOs and media organizations are ruthlessly opposed to production of GM plants. Scientists need to engage the common man to ensure that the issue de-­-mands more rational approach of thinking. The opposition is making serious im-­-pacts as many underdeveloped countries that can get a lot of advantage from this technology.■

Genetically Modified Foods for Sustainable Food Security: Debunking the Myths

Malaysian Journal of Science and Advanced Technology

The world food production may not support the population that is growing at an exponential rate. Genetically modified crops and foods may therefore provide solutions for such shortcomings. However, uncertainties and myths such as the socio-economic impact of genetically modified foods on humans, the environmental and health risks may impede the use of these foods and instil fear among the public. Contrarily, it was learned that genetically modified crops and foods were generally deliver a positive outlook as they improved the socio-economic qualities in the farmers of third world countries. Besides, it was also noted that the genetically modified crops and foods impose a minimal adverse effect on the environment and human health while more benefits were attested. As genetically modified crops and foods seem to be more advantageous to humanity in general, long-term studies and meta-analyses are still required to ascertain the safety of these genetically modified organisms as staple f...

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD CROPS AND PUBLIC HEALTH

The progress made in plant biotechnology has provided an opportunity to new food crops being developed having desirable traits for improving crop yield, reducing the use of agrochemicals and adding nutritional properties to staple crops. However, genetically modified (GM) crops have become a subject of intense debate in which opponents argue that GM crops represent a threat to individual freedom, the environment, public health and traditional economies. Despite the advances in food crop agriculture, the current world situation is still characterised by massive hunger and chronic malnutrition, representing a major public health problem. Biofortified GM crops have been considered an important and complementary strategy for delivering naturally-fortified staple foods to malnourished populations. Expert advice and public concern have led to designing strategies for assessing the potential risks involved in cultivating and consuming GM crops. The present critical review was aimed at expressing some conflicting points of view about the potential risks of GM crops for public health. It was concluded that GM food crops are no more risky than those genetically modified by conventional methods and that these GM crops might contribute towards reducing the amount of malnourished people around the world. However, all this needs to be complemented by effective political action aimed at increasing the income of people living below the poverty-line.

GMOs: A Good but Battered Means for Sustainable Production Intensification

FAO promotes Sustainable Production Intensification (SPI), which consists of a technology menu for optimizing crop production per unit area, taking into consideration the range of sustainability aspects including potential and/or real social, political, economic and environmental impacts. The author suggests that Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) cropping is not only well aligned to SPI but also that this technology is a way to maximize the SPI principles. GMO crops cover about 13 percent of the world's cropped land. More than three quarters of this area is within the three countries that also lead the production and export of the major food and feed commodities: USA, Brazil and Argentina. The remaining area is spread across about 29 countries, mostly developing countries and a few industrialised countries. Four crops account for the majority of land under GMO crops: corn, soybean, cotton, and canola. About 90 percent of the soybean and 80 percent of the corn that is traded in the world market is genetically engineered. Consequently a very large part of the world population likely eats every day food that either contains GMOs or GMO derivatives or animal products derived from GMO fed animals. It has been the fastest adopted agricultural technology, rising to its current level over only twenty years. Further increases in production will mainly occur in developing and low-income countries. In the EU, a large majority of the member states have chosen to rule against GMO cultivation. It is essentially a ‗marketing' strategy. Nevertheless, GMOs land on European tables daily in one way or another. The developing world and its low income countries are gradually improving their policy, institutional and administrative environments towards the adoption of modern biotech rules. The technology is simple, has been thoroughly tested and through extensive scientific research and testing has been shown to be as safe as crops bred and developed by other techniques. The advantages in terms of higher crop productivity and lower production costs are substantial and widely proven. GMOs are also substantially eco-friendly but more research and development is required to improve herbicide management. Only a small fraction of the GM achievements, and opportunities, are being widely exploited. Other tested discoveries, which offer valuable strategies to address the challenges of climate change, productivity concerns and human health plagues/malnutrition that are widespread in low income countries, are yet to be adopted on a meaningful scale. There is no credible evidence that GMOs constitute a threat to human health. International rules and regulatory frameworks exist and are acknowledged. Cultural, which at times appear to be ideological, barriers more often of the developed world, are hindering rational technological advancement and food security and adequacy. In order to feed the growing world population, heading towards 9 billion or more by 2050, there is the need to increase food production by 60-70 percent, and to double it in the developing world where the highest demographic growth will occur. A safe and sustainable technology exists that can contribute substantially towards this target and humanitarian responsibility.

Genetically Modified organisms(GMO)

Genetically modified (GM) foods are the product of one of the most progressive fields of science-biotechnology. Genetically Modified Organisms ( GMO ) are organisms that are generated by combining genes of different species using recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. Resulting organisms are then said to be transgenic, genetically engineered or genetically modified (GM). This group of organisms includes microorganisms, plants and animals.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Sustainability in Agriculture

2006

Surveys on consumer acceptance of GM foods revealed differences in knowledge, risk perception and acceptance of GM foods in Japan, Norway, Spain, Taiwan and the United States. There were opponents and proponents of GM foods. However, even in the United States, one of the most supportive countries, consumers were willing to pay substantial premiums to avoid GM alternatives. While genetic engineering holds great potential to enhance yield and productivity for many crops, especially those widely cultivated in the developing world, there have been little, if any tangible benefits to the consumer from the first wave of GM crops. Partially due to this lack of consumer benefits, there has been consumer resistance to GM foods in many parts of the world. It would be a great challenge for the biotechnology industry and government policy makers to improve consumer acceptance of GM foods derived from the current and future generations of GM crops. Policy makers also need to find ways to make GM...