Pro- resistance to virus (ex: ringspot virus that affected Hawaiian papaya plants)
- pesticide-producing plants
- certain toxic chemicals can be removed
- resistance to soil imbalances such as acidity and high levels of toxic things (for lack of a better word) such as aluminum
Con- exports of the US would be greatly affected because Europeans are against it
- may not be safe
- unknown allergic reactions
- resistant pests
- pollen drift
And of course, "against the will of God."
My GM report wrote:
I believe that genetically modified food is not only beneficial to the human race, but also does not affect the environment in a harmful way.
Genetically modified (or GM) crops can help reduce poverty and undernourishment problems in developing countries. I say this because GM crops can be grown to be resistant to diseases and pests. . This in turn increases the number of viable crops that farmers can consume themselves or sell. One particular example of this relates to an instance in Hawaii. A virus deadly to papayas, known as the ring spot virus, was greatly reducing crop harvests. By genetically modifying the DNA of papayas, scientists in Hawaii were able to plant a new GM papaya, and save Hawaii’s papaya industry. [Harvest of Fear]
One may argue against GM crops over the theory that pests will grow resistant to GM crops through the process of natural selection. This has been proven. However, this can easily be sidestepped. In the U.S., laws are in place such that farmers are required to plant a special area of land to maintain a pest population nonresistant to GM crops. This area of land will border the field of crops, and is called a refuge. It will allow nonresistant pests to breed with themselves, in addition to the very few resistant pests that survive. This method reduces the number of pests that are resistant to GM crops and their methods of deterring pests. [Biology Online]
Though GM engineering, certain chemicals normally toxic to humans can be removed. This can also be done so that future GM crops will be resistant to other harsh environmental conditions. One example of this process in action: GM corn in Mexico has been engineered so that it resists local acidic soil and does not absorb harmful aluminum traces in the soil. The special GM corn grows bigger and better than the normal corn and does not absorb the harmful aluminum. The normal corn would have been very dry and would have not grown well; in addition, it would have absorbed aluminum. [Harvest of Fear]
In addition, the safety of GM crops is not an issue. GM crops are regulated by testing guidelines published by the FDA. The FDA has also set up a consultation process to help developers meet the safety standards. FDA scientists advise companies on tests needed to assess the safety of new foods.
Several other private and government organizations have studied the safety of GM foods. In 2000, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences states, “The committee is not aware of any evidence that foods on the market are unsafe to eat as a result of genetic modification.” The same was said in a report published by the Government Accounting Office in 2002. In terms of animals being fed with GM food, the International Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development published a consensus document in 2003. This consensus document noted that there is no evidence that animals fed with GM food are different in any respect from those fed with non-GM food. [FDA.gov]
Again, I state strongly that the usage and consumption of genetically modified foods around the world would be a wise and intelligent decision. GM foods are not only safe, but sidestep boundaries that would not be crossable by normal crops. These boundaries include pests, disease, inhospitable soil…The list goes on and on. But there is one benefit to genetically modified foods that I find to be the most important – the fact that it can help reduce poverty all around the globe.
"people in ny have a general idea of how to drive. one of the pedals goes forward the other one prevents you from dying"