Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms produced through a genetic engineering process that changes the genetic characteristic of the organism (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). There are several ways of creating GMOs. Actual creation of GMO began in 1974 when a mouse was created with the first GMO plant being created in 1983. GMOs had received a mixed reaction from different communities in the world (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). Some has embraced it as a positive move for mankind with some condemning it more so since most of its effects have not been fully researched (Nicolia et al, 2014). This research paper looks at the various influences of GMOs to the society.
Analysis of Social Influence
The contemporary world barely agrees on anything thus from a social perspective, GMOs have received support and protest almost in equal measure. Further, there is also the manifest fear of technology and the fear of the unknown, even when the unknown is proven to have a positive impact (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). This can be compared with the fear of surveillance by the NSA to counter terrorism, yet the people are also afraid of terror itself. Some people will protest against terrorism even as others protest against the NSA.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
In many cases, the individual reaction is not based on an informed position relating to GMOs but from group based presuppositions and prejudices. As outlined in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, these personal feelings create motivations for and against the concept of GMO. The most important prejudices relate to the two main problems that GMOs seek to solve to wit hunger and disease (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). The main presupposition relates to the supposed, albeit not confirmed, adverse effects of GMOs to the world and in some instances religious and conscientious issues. From May, 2013 to May, 2014 one of the biggest global protest was executed dubbed the March against Monsanto Corporation of Creve Coeur, Missouri (Rodionova, 2016). Kindred protests against the company continue. Supporters claim that GMO science has opened an opportunity for the treatment of diseases that have defied even the advancements made as aforesaid. Further, over 800 million people face hunger and possible starvation in different parts of the world every year and GMO can provide food security (Krishnan et al, 2016).
Analysis of Cultural Influence
From a cultural perspective, America is the nation of the future and the desires and aspirations of the people rise over and above the possible and probable today (Danvers, Blum & Wesseler, 2016). This is one of the drivers of intensive and expensive research, in some cases on impossible subjects (Nicolia et al, 2014; Danvers, Blum & Wesseler, 2016). Some of the highest glossing films in America relate to major advancement in technology including biotechnology. The box office record in America is currently held by the 2009 film Avatar that closely relates to GMO (Schuller, 2014). It relates to the use of genetic engineering to create versions of a humanoid extraterrestrial race which allow normal human beings to interact with those extraterrestrials. The fact that enough Americans watched that film to break all box office records has a lot to say about the cultural relevance of advanced technology in America.
From a historical perspective, the American Industrial Revolution changed the world and to date the American industrial might is unmatched globally. It therefore follows that from a cultural perspective the likelihood of acceptability of GMO in the USA is higher than most of the world (Danvers, Blum & Wesseler, 2016). However, another culture has risen in recent times that seek to show technology as unhealthy for humans. This includes the organic food as well as the climate change movements. Whereas the American culture mostly supports major technological advancements, there still remain pockets of kindred dissent and protest (Danvers, Blum & Wesseler, 2016). This has ensured a mixed reaction to GMO but with a bias towards acceptance.
Analysis of Political Influence
The key governmental concern relating to GMOs in general is safety mainly relating to public consumption of genetically modified foods such as genetically manufactured crops (GMCs) (Nodoushani, Sintay, & Stewart, 2015). With regard to research and experimentation, America, the European Union and many parts of the world have allowed unfettered permissions save when it related to human experimentation (Danvers, Blum, & Wesseler, 2016). A key concern and one that has elicited global debate relates to the labelling of products with GMC derivatives. In the USA and Canada for example, there is no law or rule that provides for specific labelling of GMC products.
This means that from a political perspective, GMC products are presumed to be both safe and normal. Most other countries of the world however enforce labelling laws as shown in the map above. The European Union allows for the importation and processing of GMC products but has a high regulation on their cultivation due to processes such as cross pollination (Danvers, Blum, & Wesseler, 2016). With regard to funding, the US government and a majority of world governments does not provide funds advancement of GMO products. However, as at 2014, there were 198 government funded GMO based researches mainly premised on the issue of safety with 39 of them being in the USA, 29 in China and 25 in the EU (Nicolia et al, 2014). This is a clear indication of governmental support for GMO.
Analysis of Political Influence
Economic impact is one of the areas that both the supporters and opponents of GMO seem to agree that GMOs are highly economically efficient. Indeed, most of the leading global economies invest in GMCs as shown in the map above. This upward trend has only increased since 2012. One of the leading limitations for agriculture is pests and disease. This had been made worse by the opposition against pesticides and chemicals used to control diseases. Further, many areas of the world are arid or semi-arid and irrigation is extremely expensive. All these problems can be solved through GMOs designed to adapt to dry or extremely cold weather and even fed of diseases and pests (Nodoushani, Sintay & Stewart, 2015). Indeed, it is the economic benefits of GMO that have thwarted the efforts of its opponents. The world is operating at a food deficit and the high cost of food and food production diverts monies that would be better used in economic development (Krishnan et al., 2016). GMOs can, therefore, transform every area of the global economy.
Analysis of Environmental Impact
The long term environmental impacts of GMOs to the world are mainly unknown because kindred research has not been undertaken (Nicolia et al., 2014). One of the main feared impacts is effect on biodiversity. There are many species of animals and plants in the world but when a special species is created, focus on it means that most other species will be forgotten leading to their extinction. There is little consensus with regard to short term impact with positive and negative impacts being argued in equal measure (Nodoushani, Sintay, & Stewart, 2015). Toxicity is one major argument. Some commentators argue that GMOs are toxic and will have a negative impact on the environment. This includes the killing of insects necessary for pollination.
The exact opposite of this is the argument that pesticides and disease control chemicals are the ones that are toxic and the use of GMCs will eliminate their necessity hence reducing toxicity. One of the biggest environmental problems in the contemporary world is the use of fossil fuels. Plant based fuels can eliminate this and GMO can aid the production of enough plants. Research is however, still ongoing to asses environmental impact of GMOs (Nodoushani, Sintay, & Stewart, 2015).
Conclusion
It is clear from the foregoing that GMOs are here to stay irrespective of constant protest from some quotas. Indeed in the USA and Canada, GMCs are already considered as normal foods and marketed as such. Global culture loves advancement leading to more support for GMOs than opposition. The health and environmental impact of GMOs have however not been properly research. However, several government-funded and private research projects are ongoing over the same. The economic impact projections are generally positive, save for any future unknown eventualities. This should be the reason for the continued political support for the projects which has kept GMO science growing exponentially and continuously.
References
Danvers Smart, R., Blum, M., & Wesseler, J. (2016). Trends in genetically engineered crops' approval times in the United States and the European Union (No. 16-03). Queen's Management School, Queen's University Belfast.
Krishnan, P., Raridon, A., Raymond, L., & Subramaniam, M. (2016). Review of the gender and social impacts of improved seed technology in developing countries: Policy implications. Purdue Policy Research Institute (PPRI) Policy Briefs , 3 (1), 1.
Nicolia, A., Manzo, A., Veronesi, F., & Rosellini, D. (2014). An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research. Critical Reviews in Biotechnology , 34 (1), 77-88.
Nodoushani, O., Sintay, J., & Stewart, C. (2015, January). Genetically engineered food and genetically modified organisms. Competition Forum 13(1), 136).
Rodionova, Z. (2016, May 23). Thousands protest against seed giant Monsanto ahead of Bayer merger. The Independent - Business News . Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/thousands-protest-against-evil-seed-giant-monsanto-ahead-of-bayer-merger-a7043196.html
Schuller, K. (2014). Avatar and the Movements of Neocolonial Sentimental Cinema. Discourse , 35 (2), 177-193.
