My argument is against genetically modified food, for the reason that they are not safe for consumption. A befitting meal is that which has no side effects after one devours it, hence making the particular diet an all-time safe to eat food. Genetically modified foods are mostly linked to health problems like liver dysfunctions, obesity and many other health and natural mishaps. Genetically modified foods are foods that are derived from manipulation of original and natural genes that does not occur it any natural form. Example: Introduction of other genes from a different species direct to another one.
Thesis
Genetically modified foods are becoming surprisingly common within people as they are easy to access, readily available hence harmful. This kind of food is also hard to run out; reason being that they grow tremendously quick to support the surrounding population with the commodity without any kind of rationing subjected. Though they appear safe to consumers, they also pause a big challenge when it comes to health and growth of the same individual, who has little or no information about the effects that come with genetically modified foods. The concerned party or governing body that is responsible for such like developments should therefore educate the masses who were to consume the food before making any advances of selling them the products.
Background
Genetically modified food has not been on this surface for a long time, as they were first invented a few decades ago in the 80’s. The first genetically modified plant was invented in 1983; it was a tobacco plant that was made resistant to anti-biotic (Cramer 2001). Later, cotton was genetically engineered the same way, paving way for further research and development in the said field. In 1990 the cotton plant was successfully field tested and approved. Five years advanced and their came a company well known then as Monsanto that enhanced soy beans to be herbicide immune. The technology was further enhanced in 2000, through a discovery that it can be used to impart some nutrients and vitamins enriching the foods.
From the view of things and occurrences above, one cannot fail to notice that all those modifications were made on the basis of surviving the plant and making it more productive forgetting everything about its safety for consumption.
Genetically Modified food harms the environment.
From the looks of all the enhancements, it comes to my knowledge that these crops cause a serious biodiversity imbalance through many ways. Their associated herbicides tend to be with such complexity making them poisonous or unfit for the survival of soil organisms which aerate the soil to make it more productive. Birds, insects are also on the verge of dying from the same conditions as they go about with their day to day activities of pollinating the plants. Without mediums to support pollination, then the plants will be unable to reproduce.
Marine life is a pillar to bio diversity that is also threatened by the same modification of genes and herbicides. This causes the threat when rain falls only to meet and mix with the herbicides washing them away in to the water bodies i.e.; Oceans, lakes and rivers. The outcome of the combination will thereafter cause an imbalance by either killing the marine plants or fish that live in the particular water sauce. This will in a hugely impact on the supply of naturally available proteins that people get from fish and maybe ending up making the marine life completely extinct.
Water pollution is the other key factor that will be directly affected from the herbicides leading to eruption of known and unknown outbreaks that may lead to death of humans and animals at large. Rain water will also get contaminated as evaporation in the water bodies will not only include pure water but also chemical wastes that are mixed in it. That’s how the toxins will spread to other areas making the whole region unproductive and dangerous to living species.
Genetically Modified foods are unhealthy.
From information gathered, it was revealed how this kind of food is a health hazard to those who consume it either knowing or unknowingly. If substantial similarity can be established apart from a few specific samples of genetically modified food, further assessment emphasizes on newly introduced attributes. They demonstrate deficiency in amino acid structure homology to well-known protein or allergens that was assumed unsafe as a new protein (FAO/WHO, 1996).
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) clearly urges prescription of non-Genetically Modified foods/diet to all patients’ reasons being:
- Cited animal study showing damaged organs, gastrointestinal and even immune disorders and to top it all, one would be noticed ageing at an abnormal pace. Reproduction is also affected as they also lead to infertility.
- Their contamination stays for the longest time possible therefore causing it not to wear off easily either through global warming or even nuclear wastes.
- Genetically modified Organism do not increase yields as the research conducted on the developing countries clearly shows how non-GMO methods of agriculture could lead to yield increase of 79% or even higher. On average GMOs do not in any way increase the yields compared to the counterpart.
Genetically Modified Food create dangerous side effects
Mixing of genes from completely unrelated species unleashes without doubt a host of erratic effects that cause disorders of various kinds namely:
- Gluten sensitivity – Gluten is a kind of protein found in wheat, barley or rye, the increase of reaction to this has come to affect 18 million Americans according to the research conducted. Gluten sensitivity ranges in brutal from insignificant discomforts i.e. bloating and gas culminating to celiac disease, that’s seriously auto immune disorder that if not taken care of would lead to a 4-fold death increase.
- Vulnerability to viruses – Virus is blocked from infecting plant through gene silencing, this happens when unfamiliar genes are introduced to the primary then they multiply so as to confuse and win over the host genes. When such a plant is thereafter introduced to a human DNA, they lead to random disorders.
- Birth disorders – We have seen children born pre-maturely or with defects that are beyond imagination all in the name of nature’s “unruly” behavior. This turns out to be wrongly persecuting the nature as the modifications made to every food, living species consumes is prone to alter the normal body function leading to unceremonious outcomes.
- Cancer – This may sound outrageous but the standing truth is that majority of cancer patients were exposed to genetically enhanced foods or commodities such as cigarettes and medicinal stuffs. These products contain toxics that are harmful to bodies after they pile up for several years later to unleash the sickness.
Genetically Modified crops reduce world hunger.
Food production in real sense consumes a huge and significant arable land and natural water resources. GMO holds a promising appearance to lessen the burden by usage of small space to generate high yields. As according to research it is estimated that by 2050 we will be having a world population to 9 billion yet the arable land at the same time is decreasing due to natural calamities and urbanization (FAO). If the usage of land remains the same then it will need at least 4 times the current space to sustain the population at hand. Biotechnology companies say that such ranges of crops will be able to improve the livelihood and the nature of farming around the world. GMO companies brag on the basis that their crops are offer higher yields and are tolerant to modified herbicide leading to a 1.7% increase in productivity (USDA). Therefore rescuing the world from hunger, malnutrition and meeting the target of food required globally.
The real causes of hunger, malnutrition, inequality and lack of access to food and arable land is poor governing and lack of civic education to the population that is concerned in the farming industry. Hunger is also highly generated from the result of poverty due to negligence of the concerned governing bodies that have no good policies to running the country.
Inequality is the prioritizing of certain people in the society that are deemed to be more important than the rest. Prioritizing on regions and clans also fall under the same category as they cause other parts to remain undeveloped leading to hunger and access to food is a challenge to the dwellers of the said region.
Land is the primary and major source of farm products without it, there is no way one could be able to practice any kind of farming. Land shortage is brought about by urbanization and construction of buildings and infrastructure hence leading to clearing of bushes, forest that would make good harvesting havens when rehabilitated. Land is also hard to access reason being that it’s expensive for those who were not lucky enough to inherit or rich enough to buy. Land is the most expensive asset one could own on this planet, though fertile land is the one that is preferred by many making it the most expensive one. Rehabilitation of desert land is a solution to land problems as it is known to many to be unproductive.
Planting of trees near deserts or semi-arid areas could attract rains hence leading rehabilitated ready to use land. Though the process will take some time, it will be of good returns afterwards and expand the land coverage that supports farming naturally.
Recommendations
- So as to stop the world from suffering from food shortage and opt for Genetically Modified Foods, governments should lay across good policies leading to land reclamation allowing more people to engage in farming.
- Civic education ought to be conducted so as people would make correct decisions when it comes to consumption of food and what to plant.
- Strict laws should be put in place to run and govern the production of genetically modified foods so as to make them less harmful for those who can’t access naturally grown food.
Reference
History of Genetically Modified Foods. (n.d.). History of Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/ workspace/sect008/s8g5/history.htm
Institute for Responsible Technology. (n.d.). – 10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://www.responsibletechnology.org/ 10-Reasons-to-Avoid-GMOs
Genetically Modified Crops. (n.d.). Terrascope websites. Retrieved November 21, 2013, from http://12.000.scripts.mit.edu/mission2014/ genetically-modified-crops
Genetically engineered foods. (n.d.). University of Maryland Medical Center. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://umm.edu/health/medical/ency/articles/genetically- engineered-foods#ixzz2l1UjUcIX
WebAccess. (n.d.). Penn State Secure Login:. Retrieved November 22, 2013, from http://library.cqpress.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu. edu/cqresearcher/
