Essay on Genetically Modified Food (GMOs): Annotated Bibliography

The concept of intentionally altering an organism’s DNA in order to produce genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has been critically analyzed by both science and the mainstream media in the last decade. However, the genetic modification of organisms is not a recent innovation as humans have been modifying organisms for over 30 000 years (Rangel, 2015). Back then, breeding through artificial selection was the most prominent method of genetic engineering. Organisms with the most desirable traits would be bred together in order to create a new generation of superior organisms. Throughout the centuries, the developments in science and technology have resulted in new methods of genetic engineering. Now, genomes can be spliced in order to insert or remove genes. It has essentially come down to a copy and paste process with genes from animals being inserted into plants as the common practice.

In contrast, the counter argument claims that GMOs are unsafe for human consumption. However, GMOs actually improve human health by reducing the amount of pesticides needed for successful crop production. With the use of GMOs in crop production, the amount of pesticide and herbicide application has decreased. To resume, successful crop production is essential to a farmer’s success, which could be why over 18 million farmers throughout the world utilize GMOs. The successful production of crops can be achieved by genetically modifying crops with resistance against insects, weeds, and other threats. Resistance to different stressors has reduced pesticide applications by 8.1 percent. Additionally, crops that are modified to be resistant to specific

In an ever changing world, there are only a few things that are certain that all people need. It is said that a human can last three minutes without air, three hours without shelter, three days without water, and three weeks without food. The typical American farmer in 2017 feeds about 155 people compared to the 25.8 people in 1960. The thought of genetically modified organisms is nothing more than just a regulatory muddle. Agriculture is such a widely conversed topic however, through extensive research, international experiments, and general education, it is clear that genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are safe on all aspects as well as necessary to continue to feed the people.

Enserink, Martin. "Tough Lessons from Golden Rice." Science. AAAS, 25 Apr. 2008. Web. 22 Sept. 2015. .

Humanity’s advancements over the course of history have been due to major technological milestones. Of these milestones, arguably the most important has been the advent of agriculture. Agriculture has allowed humans to store food in surplus which frees them from slaving in fields and allows focus on more scholarly and artistic pursuits. As time has progressed, agriculture itself reach important advances, from selective breeding to artificial fertilizer. However, one of the most recent advances in modern times has been met with suspicion and distrust. Genetically modified organisms, commonly referred to as GMOs, have begun to be used in commercial agricultural and their widespread use in food for humans and livestock is on the rise. Many

The genetic engineering of foods has, in one sense, been in existence for hundreds of years. The first time Gregor Mendel bred different varieties of pea plants to observe the various traits present in their offspring, the concept was born. Today, genetic engineering has developed into one of the most complex and advanced fields of scientific thinking, all the while provoking many questions and acquiring many opponents along the way. While there are compelling arguments presented for each side of the issue, the simple fact is that genetically modified (GM) foods are a reality, especially in the United States, as they are already present in many products that are consumed on a daily

To achieve this goal, I have organized my paper into four sections and two sub-sections. I will begin with and brief description and summary of GMO’s and the scientific consensus on the safety and efficacy of this technology, public opinion that contradicts the science community and the origins of misinformation. Next I will talk about why GMO’s are a major component in solving food insecurity, death, sickness and poverty. In the third section of this paper involves the efforts of green campaigners who undermine science and block GMO technology. To conclude, I will provide examples of the reality of food insecurity worldwide and highlight one significant area to focus resolution efforts, Golden Rice. I

With all these advancements in genetically modified organisms, we are on our way to what is becoming known as the Second Green Revolution. The First Green Revolution refers to the successful practices in farm production around the 1950s and 1960s. With higher rates of investment in crop research, infrastructure, and market development, the production of cereal crops was able to triple with only a 30% increase in land area cultivated (Pingali, 2012). This second revolution refers to the use of GMOs as the new innovation that will lead the way to even better advancements in agriculture. The use of GMOs is being adopted and promoted by many developing nations and affluent philanthropists. One such example is Bill Gates who is a big proponent of using GMOs to cure world hunger. He has personally donated millions into researching GMOs for this reason

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).

Technology is often hailed as the pinnacle of human intelligence. It has brought us many new luxuries such as the computer, and has brought mankind into a new age. However, products of technological advances aren’t always easily accepted into society. Ever since their introduction in 1982, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been a subject of debate. Although GMOs are convenient for the food industry, their unnatural origins have caused people to be uneasy about their consumption. Critics of GMOs, while no longer seeking an outright ban, are striving for a “soft ban” in the form of labelling. This movement is largely driven by a fear of GMOs, causing people to want to know exactly what is in their food. Scientists and food industries however, propose that such labelling would not be necessary at all. On July 31, 2016, President Obama signed a bill into law regarding GMO labelling. This law has been called “the weakest labelling law imaginable” and that “it felt like a loss” by anti-GMO activists (Bitman). The weakness of the labelling law has caused further debate on the subject. Although the consequences of GMOs are not fully known, food industries should not be required to label GMOs due to scientific research backing the safety of them, their massive benefit for farmers,their overall environmental and ecological importance, and because the misconceptions about GMOs that stir fear in the public could easily be averted.

Genetically modified organisms have been the talk of the town for quite some time. People protest in strike movements in addition to writing letters to Congress about them; but are they that harmful. Should they be illegal? Research has shows that GMOs are in almost every aisle of any American grocery store. The average American would not be able to recognize that the food they buy contains GMOs since they are not labeled as such. GMOs non-labeled state allow numerous companies to disperse dangerous amounts of them in their product in order to keep the price of the product cheap in addition to gaining more profit. Monsanto’s highly controversial GMOs should be illegal because its appearance has broken social and political systems by not being properly monitored by higher authorities like the USDA.

Since their first moment on shelves in 1994, the safety of GMOs has been a controversial topic. GMOs or genetically modified organisms are ‘advanced’ organisms created by scientists taking helpful fragments of other species DNA and inserting into the DNA stream of another organism. GMOs have created tomatoes that don't freeze in the winter, and apple that cannot become brown, but at what cost? Citizens have voiced their concerns regarding modifying natural plants and after research overall, it became clear that GMOs are harmful to other organisms. GMOs have been linked to bacterial infections, and very severe consequences like chronic conditions and birth defects, which most likely coincides with the rapidly increasing amount of dangerous

There are about 795 million people suffering from hunger in the world, from whom 21,000 die on a daily basis [1]. Although humanity is currently distant from eradicating this lash in every corner of the planet, several solutions are currently being evaluated to guarantee food security. GM crops are hailed by some supporters as the definite solution because of their greater nutritional value and higher yields with respect to traditional ones, while others consider them to be detrimental to the environment and pose health risks. Due to this lack of consensus, GM crops widespread proliferation has been currently hindered either by governmental legislations or people’s fears. In order to bring some clarification to the former discrepancy, a critical analysis, presenting both points of view, has been carried out, concluding with my personal evaluation.

Genetically Modified, or GM, crops were first designed in the mid-late 1900’s when the idea to create DNA emerged. They have proven to be genetically resistant to many diseases, leading to greater yields of crops and less manual labor. Approximately 150 million hectares of land are currently being used solely for GM plants. Farmer profits have increased by 66% and crop yields have increased by 22%. With this success rate, it might be difficult to see the negative effects of increasing the prevalence of GM Crops throughout the world and in the food supply. Although GM plants have increased the international food supply and made the process of farming more efficient, GM crops have actually decreased the biodiversity present in the world, harming the environment they inhabit and the society that depends on them. Many developing countries have have actively introduced GM plants into their agricultural sphere while many others are skeptical. Other countries are divided; though their government may approve of the use of GMO’s , many groups within the nation are in opposition for adopting them. The issue about the use of GM crops continues to remain a national issue, with each country being responsible for addressing it for their own individual nation and citizens.

A 2014 study of “Genetically modified rice with health benefits as a means to reduce micronutrient malnutrition: global status, consumer preferences and potential health impacts of rice biofortification” [4] conducted by the departments of Bio-analysis, Physiology, Agricultural economics at the University of Ghent explains a major benefit that genetically modified foods can offer. Two billion people worldwide are affected by micronutrient malnutrition, which is characterized by an insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. A case for genetically modified rice, also known as Foliate Biofortified Rice or Golden Rice, is presented in order to solve this hidden hunger. Since 2004, the amount of