Aug 10, · This article is part of the August Special Edition, Genetically Modified Organisms and Our Food. References. Devos, Y., et al., Environmental impact of herbicide regimes used with genetically modified herbicide-resistant maize. Transgenic Res. Dale, P., et al., Potential for the environmental impact of transgenic Apr 16, · Concerns regarding Genetically Modified Crops. Many believe that food on the market derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food. However, opponents have objected to GM crops on several grounds, including environmental concerns, the safety of GM foods, the business interests behind GM crops, intellectual Hossain, F, CE Pray, Y Lu, J Huang and R Hu. Genetically modified cotton and farmers’ health in China. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, ; Fawcett, R and D Towery. Conservation tillage and plant biotechnology: how new technologies can improve the environment by reducing the need to plow
GMOs: Pros and Cons, Backed by Evidence
The debate over the environmental impact of genetically modified GM crops is growing increasingly complex, intense, and extremely emotional.
It is further complicated as new research is published. Are GM crops safe for the environment? Assessing the environmental impact of GM crops is often difficult as many factors are considered. Some scientists focus on the potential risks of GM crops, while others emphasize their potential benefits. Just what are the issues and how can we address them? A growing population, global warming, and loss of biodiversity have a tremendous impact on our environment.
By yearthere will be 9. This means that in less than 50 years, world population is expected to increase by 3 billion. Feeding these people will mean massive changes in the production, distribution, and stability of food products.
Unfortunately, cropland and population are not uniformly distributed. For example, China has only 1. The destruction of wilderness and forests, and continued use of coal and oil have led genetically modified food risk essay a steady increase in carbon dioxide levels, resulting in global warming.
It is predicted that the average global temperature will rise by 1. Climate change can radically alter rainfall patterns and therefore require the migration of people and shifts in agricultural practices. Further, an increasing human population is responsible for wilderness destruction, water quality problems, and diversion of water. The loss of habitat has resulted in many species being displaced. Thus, to conserve forests, habitats, and biodiversity, it is necessary to ensure that future food requirements come only from cropland currently in use, genetically modified food risk essay.
One of the significant environmental benefits of GM crops is the dramatic reduction in pesticide use, with the size of the reduction varying between crops and introduced trait. GM crops are thoroughly evaluated for environmental effects before entering the marketplace. They are assessed by many stakeholders in accordance with principles developed by environmental experts around the world.
Most countries use similar risk assessment procedures in considering the interactions between a GM crop and its environment. These include information about the role of the introduced gene, and the effect that it brings into the recipient plant. Also addressed are specific questions about unintentional effects such as:. Potential of the introduced genes to outcross to weedy relatives as well as the potential to create weedy species.
Out-crossing is the unintentional breeding of a domestic crop with a related plant. A major environmental concern associated with GM crops is their potential to create new weeds through out-crossing with wild relatives, or simply by persisting in the wild themselves.
The potential for the above to happen is assessed prior to introduction, and is monitored after the crop is planted as well. A ten-year study initiated in demonstrated that there is no increased risk of invasiveness genetically modified food risk essay persistence in wild habitats for GM crops oilseed rape, potatoes, corn, and sugar beet and traits herbicide tolerance, insect protection tested when compared to their unmodified counterparts, genetically modified food risk essay.
In Mayit was reported that pollen from Bacillus thuringiensis Bt insect resistant corn had a negative impact on Monarch butterfly larvae. This report raised concerns and questions about potential risks to Monarchs and perhaps other non-target organisms. Some scientists, however, urged caution over the interpretation of the study because it reflects a different situation than that in the environment.
Another concern over the use of Bt crops is that it will lead to the development of insect resistance to Bt. Insect resistance management plans have been developed genetically modified food risk essay government, industry, and scientists to address this issue. These plans include a requirement that every field of insect resistant crops must have an associated refuge of non-GM crops in order for the insects to develop without selection to the insect resistant varieties, genetically modified food risk essay.
Additional resistance management practices are also being developed by scientists all over the world. These must be performed in line with post-approval monitoring, where GM crops, as well as their immediate environment, will be constantly evaluated for changes even after the crop has been released.
The environmental and ecological concerns potentially associated with GM crops are evaluated prior to their release. In addition, post-approval monitoring and good agricultural systems need to be in place to detect and minimize potential risks, as well as to ensure that GM crops continue to be safe after their release, genetically modified food risk essay. Comparisons among GM, conventional, and other agricultural practices, such as organic farming, will bring to light the relative risks and benefits of adopting GM crops.
Resources Publications Pocket K GM Crops and the Environment. Pocket K No. Foldable Version PDF Chinese English French France Spanish Thai Urdu Document Version PDF Chinese English Vietnamese, genetically modified food risk essay.
OMG, GMOs! The Risks + Benefits of Genetically Modified Food
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Aug 10, · This article is part of the August Special Edition, Genetically Modified Organisms and Our Food. References. Devos, Y., et al., Environmental impact of herbicide regimes used with genetically modified herbicide-resistant maize. Transgenic Res. Dale, P., et al., Potential for the environmental impact of transgenic Apr 16, · Concerns regarding Genetically Modified Crops. Many believe that food on the market derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food. However, opponents have objected to GM crops on several grounds, including environmental concerns, the safety of GM foods, the business interests behind GM crops, intellectual Jul 02, · GMOs, short for genetically modified organisms, are subject to a lot of controversy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), GMO seeds are used to
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