Genetically Modified Organisms: A Safe Solution
What if I said there was a solution to world hunger? A super-crop that could change the world? Here I am, saying that there is a solution: genetically modified organisms.Genetically modified organisms’ safety has become a controversial topic in the past five years. A genetically modified organism, or a GMO, is an organism that has had its genes altered to somehow improve the way it grows or produces. There are numerous benefits in growing genetically modified crops; these crops yield more products, grow in difficult weather, produce nutrient rich alternatives, and are entirely safe for public use.
One of the biggest draws to genetically modified crops is they simply produce more, which is important in any farming operation, especially a small family farm. Farming is a tradition for many families; many generations of children return to the farm to work and continue the legacy of their family farm. Farmers work hard to stay afloat in an ever changing agricultural field: “In today's competitive agriculture industry, farmers need all the help they can get. Growing genetically modified (GM) crops is the primary way that farmers can increase their yields and their profits in order to stay competitive” (Weeks par. 1). The population of the world is growing at an extremely rapid rate and there must be food to feed this growing population: “With the world projected to add 2.3 billion people from 2009 to 2050, it will need to increase food production by 70 percent..” (Weisser par. 1). Genetically modified organisms will play a key role in this necessary increase in food.
Not only do genetically modified organisms grow an abundance of crops, they also can be enriched to grow a more nutrient rich crop. Genetically modified organisms can be enhanced to be richer in a certain vitamin or mineral. This may not seem like a big deal but in third world countries like the Philippines, a genetically modified crop called “Golden Rice” has been introduced to help combat blindness due to Vitamin A deficiency (Graham par. 5). “Vitamin A deficiency is especially severe in underdeveloped countries, where the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that nearly 125 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency” (Hoyle par. 8). Scientists were able to genetically engineer a rice rich in Vitamin A that could be grown in the Philippines. Not only does this “Golden Rice” help save the vision of the Philippine people, but it also gives jobs to many people to grow the rice.
If a person were to look up the term “GMO”, the first thing they would see is a picture of a tomato being injected with a threatening looking fluid. This is part of the public mistrust in genetically modified organisms. This picture, however, could not be more inaccurate: “...despite the agreement among most scientists that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are just as safe as food grown by conventional methods, advocacy groups have convinced many members of the public that GMOs are unhealthy” (Chien par. 1). When organisms are genetically modified the actual seed is altered; there is no modification to the actual product when it is grown. Genetically modified organisms must go through the same testing as Non-GMO organisms:
Many people who oppose genetically modified (GM) foods use the arguments that such foods have not been adequately studied and that there is no scientific consensus on whether they are safe. Such claims are flatly untrue. GM crops have been extensively studied and found to be as safe as—or even safer than—conventional or organic foods, and the scientific community is in broad agreement about this fact. (Wendel par. 1)
Any genetically modified organism sold in a store is required to go through the same safety tests as Non-GMO products. These products being sold are undoubtedly safe for public consumption.
Despite the scientific research supporting the safety of GMO’s, an abundance of people still oppose the use of genetically modified organisms in food. These oppositions are easy to believe because the oppositions make it seem like GMO’s could be dangerous to public health. These strategies are effective in making individuals that are uneducated in areas pertaining to genetically modified organisms feel fearful. Part of this fear comes directly from misinformation: “The US Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency have all badly failed in their responsibilities to evaluate and monitor the potential risks of GM foods” (Thompson par. 2). This makes it seem as if genetically modified food came in completely unmonitored and unregulated; in reality there have been extensive studies on the safety of genetically modified organisms.
These are the numerous benefits of growing genetically modified organisms with no negative effects. Growing a crop that is higher producing, more durable, and nutrient rich seems like the obvious choice. With all of these benefits there is no question. GMOs are a safe choice to many pressing problems.
Works Cited
Chien, Shanley. “Genetically Modified Food Is Healthy.” Medill Reports Chicago, Edited by Dedria Bryfonski, Oct. 2015, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010988211&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=3b2533f603136be22904fd690375405e.
Hoyle, Brian Douglas. “Golden Rice.” Biotechnology: In Context, Edited by Brenda Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner, Gale, Detroit, 2012, Student Resources in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Reference&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=SUIC&search_within_results=&p=SUIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|LXABYH631565624&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=2785339552180cff564c1ffcf37e5ad6.
Thompson, Tamara, editor. “Genetically Modified Foods Need More Regulation.” Genetically Modified Foods Need More Regulation, 2014, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259252&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=794756ae8a107b63976be6e90747cbd6.
Weeks, Andrew. “Genetically Modified Crops Help Farmers.” Times-News, Edited by Tamara Thompson, 2013, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259245&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=79e1651569c944bd929e9820fb123bae.
Weisser, David. “Genetically Modified Foods Can Help Address the Global Food Crisis.” Genetically Modified Foods Can Help Address the Global Food Crisis, Edited by Dedria Bryfonski, no. 152, 2014, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010988208&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=d0a9ef9832391ab4a1533d8000adb7e3.
Wendel, JoAnna. “Genetically Modified Foods Have Been Studied and Found Safe to Eat.” GeneticLiteracyProject.com, Edited by Tamara Thompson, Aug. 2013, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259251&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=64e5f47098fa71d3d1bbaba4dec17ef4.
What if I said there was a solution to world hunger? A super-crop that could change the world? Here I am, saying that there is a solution: genetically modified organisms.Genetically modified organisms’ safety has become a controversial topic in the past five years. A genetically modified organism, or a GMO, is an organism that has had its genes altered to somehow improve the way it grows or produces. There are numerous benefits in growing genetically modified crops; these crops yield more products, grow in difficult weather, produce nutrient rich alternatives, and are entirely safe for public use.
One of the biggest draws to genetically modified crops is they simply produce more, which is important in any farming operation, especially a small family farm. Farming is a tradition for many families; many generations of children return to the farm to work and continue the legacy of their family farm. Farmers work hard to stay afloat in an ever changing agricultural field: “In today's competitive agriculture industry, farmers need all the help they can get. Growing genetically modified (GM) crops is the primary way that farmers can increase their yields and their profits in order to stay competitive” (Weeks par. 1). The population of the world is growing at an extremely rapid rate and there must be food to feed this growing population: “With the world projected to add 2.3 billion people from 2009 to 2050, it will need to increase food production by 70 percent..” (Weisser par. 1). Genetically modified organisms will play a key role in this necessary increase in food.
Not only do genetically modified organisms grow an abundance of crops, they also can be enriched to grow a more nutrient rich crop. Genetically modified organisms can be enhanced to be richer in a certain vitamin or mineral. This may not seem like a big deal but in third world countries like the Philippines, a genetically modified crop called “Golden Rice” has been introduced to help combat blindness due to Vitamin A deficiency (Graham par. 5). “Vitamin A deficiency is especially severe in underdeveloped countries, where the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has estimated that nearly 125 million children suffer from vitamin A deficiency” (Hoyle par. 8). Scientists were able to genetically engineer a rice rich in Vitamin A that could be grown in the Philippines. Not only does this “Golden Rice” help save the vision of the Philippine people, but it also gives jobs to many people to grow the rice.
If a person were to look up the term “GMO”, the first thing they would see is a picture of a tomato being injected with a threatening looking fluid. This is part of the public mistrust in genetically modified organisms. This picture, however, could not be more inaccurate: “...despite the agreement among most scientists that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are just as safe as food grown by conventional methods, advocacy groups have convinced many members of the public that GMOs are unhealthy” (Chien par. 1). When organisms are genetically modified the actual seed is altered; there is no modification to the actual product when it is grown. Genetically modified organisms must go through the same testing as Non-GMO organisms:
Many people who oppose genetically modified (GM) foods use the arguments that such foods have not been adequately studied and that there is no scientific consensus on whether they are safe. Such claims are flatly untrue. GM crops have been extensively studied and found to be as safe as—or even safer than—conventional or organic foods, and the scientific community is in broad agreement about this fact. (Wendel par. 1)
Any genetically modified organism sold in a store is required to go through the same safety tests as Non-GMO products. These products being sold are undoubtedly safe for public consumption.
Despite the scientific research supporting the safety of GMO’s, an abundance of people still oppose the use of genetically modified organisms in food. These oppositions are easy to believe because the oppositions make it seem like GMO’s could be dangerous to public health. These strategies are effective in making individuals that are uneducated in areas pertaining to genetically modified organisms feel fearful. Part of this fear comes directly from misinformation: “The US Food and Drug Administration, Department of Agriculture, and Environmental Protection Agency have all badly failed in their responsibilities to evaluate and monitor the potential risks of GM foods” (Thompson par. 2). This makes it seem as if genetically modified food came in completely unmonitored and unregulated; in reality there have been extensive studies on the safety of genetically modified organisms.
These are the numerous benefits of growing genetically modified organisms with no negative effects. Growing a crop that is higher producing, more durable, and nutrient rich seems like the obvious choice. With all of these benefits there is no question. GMOs are a safe choice to many pressing problems.
Works Cited
Chien, Shanley. “Genetically Modified Food Is Healthy.” Medill Reports Chicago, Edited by Dedria Bryfonski, Oct. 2015, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010988211&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=3b2533f603136be22904fd690375405e.
Hoyle, Brian Douglas. “Golden Rice.” Biotechnology: In Context, Edited by Brenda Wilmoth Lerner and K. Lee Lerner, Gale, Detroit, 2012, Student Resources in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/suic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=false&displayGroupName=Reference&currPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=SUIC&search_within_results=&p=SUIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|LXABYH631565624&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=2785339552180cff564c1ffcf37e5ad6.
Thompson, Tamara, editor. “Genetically Modified Foods Need More Regulation.” Genetically Modified Foods Need More Regulation, 2014, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259252&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=794756ae8a107b63976be6e90747cbd6.
Weeks, Andrew. “Genetically Modified Crops Help Farmers.” Times-News, Edited by Tamara Thompson, 2013, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259245&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=79e1651569c944bd929e9820fb123bae.
Weisser, David. “Genetically Modified Foods Can Help Address the Global Food Crisis.” Genetically Modified Foods Can Help Address the Global Food Crisis, Edited by Dedria Bryfonski, no. 152, 2014, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010988208&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=d0a9ef9832391ab4a1533d8000adb7e3.
Wendel, JoAnna. “Genetically Modified Foods Have Been Studied and Found Safe to Eat.” GeneticLiteracyProject.com, Edited by Tamara Thompson, Aug. 2013, Opposing Viewpoints in Context, ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?disableHighlighting=true&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&currPage=&dviSelectedPage=&scanId=&query=&prodId=OVIC&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&mode=view&catId=&limiter=&display-query=&displayGroups=&contentModules=&action=e&sortBy=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010259251&windowstate=normal&activityType=&failOverType=&commentary=true&source=Bookmark&u=chil38234&jsid=64e5f47098fa71d3d1bbaba4dec17ef4.