The debate on Genetically Modified Organisms and particularly genetically engineered food has been an enormous debate. Stakeholders have taken differing stands, with each giving their reason to support or refute. This debate has left the consumers are even confused about what is healthy or harmful. Scientists who are not biased therefore need to provide clear and easy to comprehend information, which can be achieved through the internet and mainstream media. In the United States, the campaign has met substantial resistance, but the wave is stronger in Canada and India. In Canada for instance, lobby groups that are anti-GMF have created great influence among consumers (Shiva, 2016). The sources for this paper are peer-reviewed scholarly articles: PCR Technology for Screening and Quantification of Genetically Modified Organisms by Holst-Jensen, Ronning, Lovseth, & Berdal, Plant Biologist Speaks Out Against GMOs by Latham, J. and A fork in the road for the GMO debate., an article published in the Australasian Science journal.
Consumers should be provided with the necessary information and left to decide on whether to consume genetically modified foods or not. A good example is a decision by the European Union to label all products with traces of genetically modified ingredients. However, what is the truth about these foods? Genetically Modified Organic Food Should be fully adopted for Food Security. This paper will argue out how genetically modified foods will provide food security, if fully adopted.
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According to the United Nation (2018), it estimates that the world population will hit 8.5 billion by 2030, and reach 9.7 billion by 2050. In this accord, the former U.N. Under-Secretary-General, Wu Hongbo, said that necessary preparation needs to be taken, with food security being on top on the list. To achieve this, the United Nations says food production globally in the next 35 years must be double of what farmers produce now. Surprisingly, the amount of land used for farming is shrinking due to the increased population. For this reason, biotechnology in the form of genetic modification is the only way to sustain the rapidly growing population. This paper is particularly important for leaders who are seeking to gain knowledge on how to achieve food security in their nations.
Genetic Modification involves gene insertion, and gene knock out, with the undesirable trait being replaced with a gene of interest. An example is a potato plant that produces ten potatoes being enhanced to yield twenty potatoes of a large size. The potato size and number depends on a particular gene in the plant. The original gene is removed and replaced with a modified one in a genetic engineering laboratory. This means that the cost of feeding a population will be lesser.
In addition to being able to produce more produce from small pieces of land, Genetically Modified foods are also beneficial to the farmer since it prevents losses. In areas where a given disease or pest is a threat to crops, scientists can insert a gene that is a disease resistance gene( Robin, 2017). For this reason, farmers can plant without fear of losses due to diseases and pests, and the consumer gets quality food. A drought-resistant gene also used to beat drought in areas where large crop yields are expected yet there is limited rainfall. This is particularly important for maize, since it is a staple food in many countries, thus grown in many areas. Maize can now thrive in the regions that were once rejected due to rainfall shortage. In areas where irrigation is the only option, it is an avenue to conserve water. These crops can survive to maturity, and yield products with the little available water. A combination of yield, quality, and reliable is what the world needs for world food security.
Genetically Modified Foods need to be adopted for food security since the nutritional value is easy to improve. It is possible to enhance the nutritional content per gram of food as so that a smaller serving of a dish supplies enough nutrients. Currently, potatoes have been improved to over-express the gene that codes for Zinc. Potatoes yielded by these plants, therefore, have a higher percentage of Zinc compared to regular potatoes (Jensen, 2015). In a world that is struggling with lifestyle diseases like obesity, this comes in handy; small servings that suffice the need. Anti-Genetically Modified campaigns have argued that the added nutrients are harmful, but the truth is that the nutrients are not different from the usual ones. The Zinc, for example, is not manufactured in a laboratory. It is coded for in the plant, just like standard Zinc.
Anti-GMO campaigners have can out strong, presenting great ideas that need to be pondering. According to Latham (2018), genetically modified foods cannot be entirely safe and have been associated with accelerated lifestyle-related diseases. Given the increased cases of early onset of conditions that were traditionally associated with old age, this needs to be looked into. If genetic engineering is fully embraced, there is fear that some scientists will misuse it to compete with nature, and might end up creating organisms that mother earth cannot sustain.
Genetically Modified Foods have shortcomings, but the benefits outdo them, especially in food security. The world needs to find a solution to the increasing population before the number becomes too large to manage. This information should be spread through social media, research platforms and mainstream media to ensure farmers, manufacturers and consumers have the necessary information on Genetically Modified Foods, since they are the greatest hope for attainment of food security.
References
Holst-Jensen, A., Rønning, S. B., Løvseth, A., & Berdal, K. G. (2015). PCR technology for screening and quantification of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry , 375 (8), 985-993.
Latham, J. R. (2018). Ph.D. Plant Biologist Speaks Out Against GMOs. Science .
Robin, C. (2017). Gene drives; A fork in the road for the GMO debate. Australasian Science , 38 (4), 25.
Shiva, V. (Ed.). (2016). Seed sovereignty, food security: Women in the vanguard of the fight against GMOs and corporate agriculture . North Atlantic Books.
United Nations (2018) UN projects world population to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, driven by growth in developing countries. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/07/un-projects-world-population-to-reach-8-5-billion-by-2030-driven-by-growth-in-developing-countries/
