The Risks and Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops

Genetic modification, often known as genetic engineering, is the process of directly modifying an organism’s genetic composition using biotechnological techniques in order to develop an improved or novel organism. The new DNA can be obtained by either copying or isolating the genetic materials of interest using recombinant DNA (rDNA) or artificial synthesis of the DNA (Qaim and Kouser 5). The primary goal of genetic alteration is to create organisms with more admirable qualities than the original species. The genetically modified crops (GM Crops) include those crops whose genetic compositions are modified in order to produce crops which are resistant to pests, diseases or adverse environmental conditions and chemical treatments. In this paper, I will argue that the genetic modification of the crops should be legalized since its benefits outweigh the underlying consequences. With the revolutionizing technology, ethicists should focus on finding permissible interventions and techniques which are safe and useful for the human race to properly advance into an era of longevity and good health.

I believe that genetic modification on crop is a very significant process which should be embraced. Different researchers have shown that the development of the genetically modified crops has led to the production of nutritious crops which can overcome the adverse environmental conditions. It is in the public domain that issues related to the environmental pollution and global warming are causing a lot of threats to the lives of the human beings (Garry D. et al. 230). This is because they lead to adverse environmental conditions which do not support the agricultural activities hence leading to food shortage. With such changes in the environmental conditions, I believe that it would be important for the researchers to look for alternatives which can be used to ensure that the supply of food is to the ever-growing world population is not halted (Qaim and Kouser 5).

Therefore the most appropriate option would the implementation of the genetic modification process and legalizing supply of its products in the market (Garry D. et al. 228). Despite the available controversial debates on the use of the genetically modified crops, I am very certain that they have more beneficial effects on the lives of the human beings as compared to their shortcomings. Many health activists have argued that the continuous usage of the genetically modified crops can lead to the development of various diseases such as cancer which is a threat to the human lives (Prakash 11).

The fact is, much of these allegations have not yet been confirmed and properly documented. A good example of one of the most important genetically modified crops includes the golden rice which had both health and nutritious benefits to the human beings. In the development of the golden rice, the biotechnologists were able to incorporate the beta-carotene in an edible form, which an important precursor of the vitamin A, into rich crops. The rice which was produced was to be grown and consumed in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A (Keith R. et al. 4).

To make the matters interesting; no complaint had been reported regarding the usage of this type of crop. Other than resistance, the genetic modification of the crops can be done to ensure that their nutritional values are improved, as seen in the case of the golden rice. Even though there is a lot of debate on the usage of the genetically modified organisms such as crops, there is still no quantifiable harm that has been reported regarding the use of these crops.

Through the process of genetic modification for the purpose of coming up with crops with more admirable characteristics, I can confidently say that the process has been a plus to the human life. This is because the farmers will not worry anymore about the stress which may arise from the issues such as drought and diseases (Prakash 12). The advanced level of technology in the current economy has led to the emissions of chemicals and waste which can be a threat to the agricultural sector (Keith R. et al. 4). Hence I believe that through the development of more advanced genetically modified crops, and these threats will be a thing of the past (Garry D. et al. 225).

Even though there are some studies which have argued out that the introduction of more genetically produced crops in the agricultural sector can have some threats on the original versions of those crops, these effects cannot be compared with the potential importance of the genetically modified crops in the economy. With the development new diseases across the world, the development of the genetically modified crops with the pharmaceutical benefits will be very vital in the prevention and treatment of those diseases (Qaim and Kouser 5). A good example of the proposal to incorporate insulin into some of the genetically modified crops. This approach will be very important in ensuring that those who are diabetic do not suffer from the continuous threats of taking the insulin medications since they will directly eat them with these genetically modified crops (Carolina et al. 18941).

The possible link between the use of the genetically modified crops and the development of cancer is still an argument which has been found not to hold any water. Thus, according to my perspective, I believe that the introduction of these genetically modified crops into the economy will, instead of causing health risks, provide a solution to the potential health-related problems both in the human beings and other organisms.

The wide range of the application of the inorganic farming has in the recent years led to the deterioration of the soil fertility hence leading to the production of crops with low qualities and yields. This is now where the genetic modification of crops will come in to solve the situation. These crops can always be modified using specific specifications which will ensure that they survive in those adverse environmental conditions (Keith R. et al. 4). Through the implementation of the biotechnological techniques of genetically modified crop productions, the farmers will not be worrying a lot about the infertility of the soil, and low qualities and quantities of the crops.

From his perspective, I can say that the even though different researches have been indicating that the prolonged use of the genetically modified crops would lead to soil infertility and prevalence of new diseases which might affect the crops, the genetic modification process will instead offer the potential solution to this problem. One of the main cause of the soil infertility is poor agricultural practices, which started way before the introduction of the genetically modified crops. Hence this should not be a point that should be used by those anti-genetically modified crops (Qaim and Kouser 5).

The effects of the scientific discoveries and innovations always depend on how the idea is applied. If the idea is applied for the purpose of the solving the existing problem, just like in the case of the genetically modified crops, it will never fail to do so. But if the process is not used in the right way, it might lead to unnecessary side effects to the environment such as global warming and in the lives of the human beings such as the development of different types of cancer.

The continuous application of the farm chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides just does not have potential negative side effects on the farm but to the environment at large. In that case, it would be very important to take into consideration of the development of crops which are resistant to the potential effects which might be caused by the pests and the weeds. I, therefore, believe that the introduction of the genetically modified crops will be a very good solution to this menace (Prakash 9).

One of the most severe serve factors which affect the quality of the food which are produced is the reduced or short shelf life (Carolina et al. 18953). In this case, most the crops, either processed or harvested from the farm cannot always be store for a long time since their genetic compositions do not provide for the mechanism which they can use in ensuring that all of their cellular activities are not prematurely affected. To solve this problem, I believe that the application of the biotechnological techniques such as genetic engineering will be the most appropriate approach which should be embraced (Keith R. et al. 3).

Through the genetic modification or engineering, the shelf life of these crops can be increased by incorporating genes which will be responsible for the fulfillment of that admired traits (Qaim and Kouser 5). This will, therefore, help in the provision of the solution to the problems which affect the food and agricultural sector hence leading to a sustainable method of promoting food security in the whole world. Based on the findings from the research study conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the genetically modified seeds are applied in the plantation of more ninety percent of the plants such as corn, soybeans, and cotton which are grown in the United States of America (Garry D. et al. 232). To put more light on this issue, it has been determined that application of these crops has not yet led to the development of threats to the lives of the consumers and the environment at large.

Conclusion

Therefore, I believe that there is a need for embracing the use of biotechnology through the development of the genetically modified organisms such as the GM crops since they have a wide range of beneficial effects than the potential negative effects on the human life. Through the development of the genetically modified crops, there has been the formation of the crops which have very much admirable qualities that will enable them to survive even in the adverse environmental conditions. Agriculture has been at the receiving end of the effects associated with the global warming. This is based on the fact that the process has led to the occurrence of the adverse environmental conditions that after that affect the agricultural sector. This process has enabled the production of crops which are resistant to drought, chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. On the same note, the nutritional contents of the plants could also be improved in order to meet the specified nutritional requirement.

Works Cited

Peterson, Garry D. et al. “The Risks and Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.” Conservation Ecology, volume 4, no. 1, 2000, pp. 225-236. Resilience Alliance, Inc.

Prakash, C. S. “The Genetically Modified Crop Debate in the Context of Agricultural Evolution.” PLANT PHYSIOLOGY, volume 126, no. 1, 2001, pp. 8-15. American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB).

Qaim, Matin, and Shahzad Kouser. “Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security.” Plos ONE, volume 8, no. 6, 2013, pp. 1-7. Public Library of Science (Plos).

Schneider, Keith R. et al. “Genetically Modified Food.” IFAS Extension University of Florida, volume 3, no. 4, 2013, pp. 1-5.

Simó, Carolina et al. “Metabolomics of Genetically Modified Crops.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, volume 15, no. 10, 2014, pp. 18941-18966. MDPI AG.