Population
is growing day by day. Agricultural produce now is less for the current
population of the world. One of the solutions is Genetically Modified (GM)
crops. Genetically Modified foods are produced from genetically modified crops using
latest biotechnology. There are several foods which have been genetically modified,
e.g. maize, soybeans, pineapples, papayas, strawberries. GM foods are
specifically designed such that they have solutions to the current problems
such as infection of the crops because of pests, weeds etc.
GM Foods have advantages and at the same
time disadvantages. They are made by isolating genes of one particular crop and
inserting them into another crop to give those genetic characteristics to that
particular crop. This is done to help the plant gain the characteristics that
it needs so that it can live on its own without pests, weedicides, or insecticides
affecting it. People who are developing these new techniques of GM foods, and
farmers usually support the making of GM foods and others are usually against.
There are several issues locally and
globally, bothering farmers. For several decades, crops are being destroyed due
to pests and diseases which is why farmers use pesticides which are not
preferred by the consumers. Along with pests, weeds are also a trouble for
farmers. To remove these weeds, farmers use herbicides and weedicides. Along
with weeds, crops may also get some harm. Earlier, crops used to be destroyed
several times due to extreme conditions such as severe coldness or drought
conditions. In heavily populated countries the yields have to be higher and
faster due to the higher market demand however, this is not possible as crops
take their own time to harvest.
GM foods have their effects on the crop
and sometimes also on the consumers.
Hence, GM crops are a boon to the
farmers as they are less expensive to harvest although the seeds themselves may
be more expensive.
There are several advantages of
genetically modifying the crops grown by farmers. The first advantage of GM
crops is that the crop has better resistance against pests/insects and diseases.
Due to this reason, some people argue that GM foods are having a good effect on
the environment as farmers are reducing the usage of all sorts of pesticides
and herbicides. The second advantage of GM crops is that they become resistant
to herbicides. By genetically modifying the plants, crops can be made to
develop resistance against weedicides too.
The third advantage is that the crop can
withstand sudden changes in required weather such as coldness, drought or
salinity of soil. Another very good advantage of GM crops when it comes to
heavily populated countries or malnutrition countries due their higher and faster
yields. As an example, a genetically modified Tomato plant gives yield in 2
months as compared to 3 months yield time of regular tomato. Also, these crops
have a very high nutritional quality which is why they can be used in
malnutrition countries.
Although GM crops have so many
advantages, they have many disadvantages and limitations too, mainly to the
consumers and other biodiversity. Hence, GM foods are a curse to many in the
world.
The first disadvantage of using GM crops
is that these may cause allergies and itching to the human body. For example,
farmers who were picking GM cotton and the people who were working in the
processing factories got allergies triggered in their bodies. It has also been
shown that GM peanuts can cause allergies to the human body when they are
consumed.
The second disadvantage of GM crops is
that they may destroy the biodiversity of the world. For example, the monarch
caterpillar is killed because of the genetically modified corn. A lot of
biodiversity can be lost in this way as the genetically modified foods are not
only resisting pest activity but also they are harming or killing unrelated
pests.
A very bad problem created by GM crops
is that due to cross pollination, the resistance genes may get transferred to
weeds because of which they too can become resistive (note that it happens only
when the weeds and the GM crop are of the same species). These weeds now cannot
be destroyed by weedicides which is why they are called super weeds. There is a
similar phenomenon occurring between GM crops and pests. When a pest rests on a
GM crop, the resistance genes can get transferred to the pests. These pests now
cannot be destroyed by pesticides which is why they are called super pests.
A Professor said “If it is left to me, I
would certainly not eat it. We are putting things into food which have not been
eaten before. The effects on the immune system are not easily predictable and I
challenge anyone who will say that the effects are predictable.” (Arpad
Pustzai). Many other scientists are also against the growing of GM crops. They
really say that it is a curse to mankind.
Many people who support the growing of
GM crops say that the use of GM crops is good for the environment as GM crops
develop resistance to pests. Hence, the farmers don’t need to use much of
herbicides, weedicides or pesticides. This would reduce the impact on the
environment.
Ethically,
GM crops are lagging. The scientists violate other natural organisms which is
ethically not correct. Also, tampering the nature is not ethically accepted.
Scientists are using the genes of other plants to make another plant resistive.
This too is not ethically acceptable to many. These are the ethical effects of
GM crops.
Economically too, GM crops have had an
effect. The cost of producing GM seeds is very high compared to the normal seeds.
This is because the seeds of GM crops are ‘suicide seeds’ or ‘terminator
seeds’. These seeds can produce only one generation. Then, seeds have to be produced
again. This increases the cost of sowing to farmers. The cost of seed is high
because of being genetically modified and engineered.
From all the advantages and
disadvantages that could be listed down, we come to know that a GM crop is both
a boon to some and a curse to others. The environmental benefits are great and
also efforts of the farmers are less while at the same time, it is harming
biodiversity on Earth and is unethically tampering with the nature. Hence, “GM
crops are both a boon and a curse…”
-Suhas
2/3/14
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