Political Labeling Currently there is no policy for labeling GM foods. DNA tests to determine the GM content of various foods are also expensive. None of the federal state of local governments are currently doing these tests. Manufacturers are therefore unlikely to get caught if they do not appropriately label foods containing GM ingredients. via (Food) Third World Countries Third-World Countries Developing countries begin poor and many times they are not able to feed everyone in their population. There is a concern that they are not able to afford growing genetically modified foods. |
Social "Increases in crop productivity, small poor farmers has allowed us to contribute to the alleviation of poverty. " World Hunger Genetically modified foods can help feed the world’s growing population and third-world countries. Not only will genetic modification allow a larger yield from a given crop by losing less to pests and disease, but plants can be engineered to grow in harsher climates and grow with more efficiency (fewer defects). Land needed for growing crops is decreasing but, demands for food are increasing. GM crops could be developed to grow in colder climates, with less water, in saltier soils, or with more cycles in a given year. If food can be grown in any kind of environment, the production of crops can improve world hunger. Health and Nutrition Humans benefit greatly by consuming genetically modified foods. These foods have the ability of becoming healthier (oils with lowered saturated fat), more nutritious (high fiber corn, high starch potatoes), and even safer (less pesticides, and insecticides). They also benefit malnourished countries by adding vitamins and minerals to stable crops. For example, about 80% of the world's diet is rice, which has almost no Vitamin A content. As a result, 2 million children die each year of Vitamin A deficiency, and many more go blind. "Golden rice" is a project intended to genetically alter rice so that it produces enough Vitamin A to avoid these deaths and disabilities. (Citation AB) |
Economic "Scientists who use genetic engineering techniques for food production have the same goal as traditional breeders — making our food supply safer for consumers and the environment and less expensive to produce. Adding a new gene to a crop plant may benefit growers and consumers. This technique is being used to produce crops that are less vulnerable to insects, diseases and weeds. In the future, scientists hope to develop crops that can be used to create new materials or energy sources, provide more nutrients, treat diseases or serve as vaccines to prevent diseases. " via (effects) "Theoverall aim of the food industry with respect to GE will beto improve the quantity and to increase the quality and properties of existing food products, to produce new products and, of course, to improve financial returns. In2005 alone, the direct farm income benefit from biotech crops was about $5 billion. This is equivalent to having added about 3.6% to the value of global production off our main crops of soybeans, maize, canola and cotton(Brookes and Barfoot, 2006). Iran and China are the most advanced countries in the commercialization of biotech rice, which is the most important food crop in the world,grown by 250 million farmers, and the principal food ofthe world’s 1.3 billion poorest people, mostly subsistence farmers (James, 2005). Thus, the commercialization of biotech rice has enormous implications for the alleviation of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, not only for the rice growing and consuming countries in Asia, but for all biotech crops and their acceptance on a global basis" via "More than that. The tough European
regulations comparable with that of toxic chemicals persuade people that GM
crops should be equally dangerous. Naturally, such atmosphere of public fear
imposes heavy burden on bringing GM crops to the market and prevents farmers
from employing modern technology and deriving benefit from them. This is
serious socio-economic impact of EU policy in the field of biotechnology. " |
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