GMO Argumentative Essay

GMOs, (genetically modified organisms) have been a topic of interest in the social eyes for years. Since they’ve been created, many people have voiced and written about their opinions on GMOs, and whether they are dangerous or not. Created to expand the genetic diversity of crops and animals, many don’t know whether GMOs are good or bad, and neither do researchers. Though there hasn’t been any evidence claiming whether GMOs are good or bad, it has certainly not stopped the public from creating their own opinions. Since no one knows the truth behind GMO, it has opened a window of opportunities for companies including Monsanto to voice their support of GMO, while other companies like the Non-GMO Project voice their

In the essay “Genetically Modified Food: Watching What We Eat,” by Julie Cooper, she argues against the rampant use of genetically modified food (GMO) without any current form of regulation. Cooper discusses the possibility of health risks to those consuming foods with altered genes and the food’s capabilities to have far-reaching health risks. She continues with a discussion as to how and why the creation and use of the GMOs have become so unregulated. She then discusses the response, which is the public’s cry for their right to make informed choices. Other topics discusses are the political, environmental, and corporate ramifications of the rise of GMOs.

By genetically modifying traits in plants, biotechnology allows for higher food production in a wider array of places without the use of chemicals or limited resources. The increased crop availability results in economic profit, not only in the United States, but in developed and non-developed nations around the globe. A study to support this claim from Iowa State University shows that without GMO’s, global prices would be nearly 10% higher for soybeans and 6% higher for corn, two largely grown crops throughout the world. The net economic benefit for farmers in 2011 was $19.8 billion (PG Economics, 1996-2011). This results in an average rise in income of $329 per acre. For the entire 16-year period since the introduction of GMO’s, the increase in global

Over the past few decades a new controversy has arisen in the scientific community: should Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) be used in modern society. There are generally two sides to this debate: one being in favor of GMO use and the other against it. Pro GMO activists believe that GMOs can help address hunger issues and help reduce use of pesticides/insecticides while Anti-GMO activists state that it is a threat to the agriculture industry, and should be banned. Both sides have several valid points, however GMO’s are even more complicated from initial glance, and may not be as dangerous as some believe.

Ever since their entrance onto the consumer market in the last two decades of the twentieth century, genetically modified organisms (often referred to as GMOs) have been getting mixed reviews from the public. Genetically modified consumer products (primarily food) have pushed the barriers of some people's comfort levels. Born out of either a lack of knowledge or a sincere concern for public health or the environment, a consumer rights movement has been planted around the world pushing for labeling of genetically modified food products. This movement has matured in many places to a degree where interest groups have successfully lobbied governments into adopting criteria for labeling transgenic food

GMO foods were designed for various reasons; for instance, to enhance growth, resist parasites, hold longer shelf life, and hold a higher nutritional value. Controversy of GMOs is still prevalent, as they have been able to consume for over 20 years. Many are concerned because of the

Hundreds of shoppers and buyer throughout Europe are refusing to buy GMO products, they are standing up to their government by saying “NO” to genetically modified products. One shopper said that “It is like the Mad Cow Disease,” putting it on them before they know more about the supply or product.   Many countries have banned GMO’s, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Bulgaria, and the Philippines are one of the many countries that have banned GMO’s.  According to Europe they banned GMO’s because of the Mad Cow Disease, so why hasn’t the U.S. banned GMO’s yet? The reason behind why the U.S. hasn’t banned GMO’s is because of the crops and production. Farmers are required to buy new seeds every year than saving the one from the previous year because they aren’t able to withstand herbicides and

The leaders of the United States of America need to recognize and take action on the concern of the public, regarding GMO food. People have a deep concern for GMO food. They have a right to be concerned about something that is potentially harmful to the population of the United States of America. They are concerned for the safety of GMO food. They are also concerned about the loss of money that can happen, when investing in GMO food. There are many concerns for GMO food. However, the only way to prove this statement, is to successfully refute the opposing viewpoints other people may have, regarding GMO food.

GMOs are beneficial to society, therefore should be continued to be used. Scientist Charles Arntzen has discovered a method of inserting vaccines into crops. Using his method people in developing countries would have an easier and safer way of being vaccinated. Another reason GMOs should be continued is so farmers can be less reliant on pesticides. Although pesticides can help keep bugs away they can be harmful to animals and people, using the GM crops with anti-pest genes already in them can help eliminate the need for pesticides. However, when GMOs are not tested thoroughly, they can be dangerous. For example, in 1989 a dietary supplement of tryptophan was released, it killed 37 people, permanently disabled 1,500 people, and caused 5,000

The general public often portrays Genetically Modified Organisms in a negative light. People have been displeased with the massive incorporation of GMOs into our modern methods of food production and demand the incorporation of labels which would cost the U.S. millions of dollars (since GM Foods and Non-GM Foods aren’t sorted separately) in an attempt to avoid the consumption of this technological advancement. These people’s concerns regarding GM Foods are understandable, as there have been some research that correlates GMOs with an increase in allergic reaction and cross pollination. However, these concerns often turn into fanaticism, a result of a lack of knowledge in regards to the benefits that GMOs pose. Although Portrayed negatively by the media, Genetically Modified Organisms/Genetically Modified Foods pose a variety of food that will help sustain the world’s exponential population growth.

According to the article “Foreign Policy in Focus” there are twenty-six countries that have banned GMOs for good because of all the negative side effects GMOs have. Even still, there are other countries that allow GMOs but are required to have a label with everything that used to make the product. Additionally, farmers have many positive, but also negative opinions when it comes to the use of GMOs. Looking at it on the positive side they are able to use fewer pesticides on crops but farmers are afraid that sooner or later worms and weeds will adapt. If you look at it in the negative side biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict the use of GMOs. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States. Many farmers are beginning to take different alternatives to this problem. For example, farmers are now abandoning GMO seeds for crops and using non-GMO seeds; not only are they better, but they also bring farmers a higher profit since there is a demand for non-GMO

Have you ever been in the grocery store and seen a food labeled with the letters “GMO” or “Genetically Modified Organism”. Chances are one has not, because over 80% of genetically modified foods in the supermarkets are unlabeled. Today in the U.S. 85% to 95% of the crops are genetically

This all began when two scientists called “Joshua Lederberg and Edward L. Tatum conducted an experiment and discovered that DNA can be transferred from one species to another in 1946”. The discovery had led to the development of “special rice that can prevent blindness, herbicide resistant crops, disease- resistant vegetables, and livestock growth hormones which improved farming efficiency”. Food companies in the media argue that the GMO revolution is the solution to our modern agriculture problems. “In 1998 Dr. Arpad Pusztai from the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen discovered a shocking truth about species manipulation while conducting a GMO experiment on rats”. Pusztai found that when his rats consumed genetically modified potatoes, they developed “cancerous cells in the intestines and brain”. When the research was introduced to the public, Pusztai was attacked with criticism from the food industry and academics who stated: “that his experiment was flawed”. Afterward, his career was publicly ruined and GMO began to blossom into the “$16 billion seed industry” that it is

Genetically Modified Organism’s (GMO) have been gaining public spotlight as scrutiny over their safety has recently been popularized. A GMO is defined as “an organism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering,” (Dictionary.com, 2015). The debate for both sides of the argument have been detrimental to the other and have yet to be copiously presented without a bias. While any organism can be genetically modified, the unrest between consumers and producers is centered around GMO crops because of the potential impact they could have on human health (Bushak, 2015).

All the information that was given makes you start to wonder how long it has been around and how much has it came along since the 1990s. The government has helped students and people fight GMO- “Despite the anti-GMO movement and the hesitation of many governments to approve of new GM crops, biotechnology moves forward? During his recent trip to Indonesia, De Jong volunteered to help public sector scientists create a GM potato that resists potato blight, the disease responsible for the Irish potato famine that killed more than a million people in the mid-1800s” (Maxmen). People don’t really know the risk of their own food if only they knew all the facts over their own food people would argue over this.