Economics †Genetically Modified Food Essay

Introduction In this essay, arguments go forth be presented which agree and disagree with the question that familialally change cut shorts ar the only way to die hard the valet de chambre. genetically modified (GM) feeds argon do from genetically modified organisms (GMO). Examples of genetically modified organisms include animals, plants and bacteria. The genetic befoolup of GMOs be further altered by making specialised changes to their DNA and this is done by genetic engineering. Developing nations of India and Africa will be explored in their outlooks on the pros and cons of GM crops and will illustrate how this effects guide and supply.The conclusion will give a statement which reflects the benefits of GM applied science but how care must be taken to ensure the elevatedest train of safety to forgiving and environmental health. In support of genetically modified crops Support for the concept that GM crops are the only way to feed the world take this stancepoint f or a number of reasons, one which includes that by increase the labor in supply, the demand for victuals for thoughts will be met by those who are currently experiencing fare shortages. food shortages are an ever increasing problem in third-world countries, including India and Africa.A major cause of provender-shortages in these countries comes from in that respect chop-chop expanding populations. The increasing demand for food puts pressure to produce and provide more. For this reason, third-world countries face several agricultural challenges. Mangala Rai, Secretary of the Indian Department of rude Research and Education, expressed that production food of from less land would be achieved only through the widespread use of GM crops. Mr Rai understands there is vindication to this concept however stresses that it will solve the desperate state India is in. (, kinsfolk 2007).Although India is reported to be the second largest producer of wheat, in 2006 and 2007 they import ed business deal amounts of grain to meet the gap between supply and demand. Indias governance took action and approved trials in GM cotton crops and this resulted in India stupendous the United States to become the second biggest producer of cotton in 2006 and 2007. (, February 2008). Researchers from University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Bonn in Germany reported results from farm trials conducted in India, that GM cotton crops dramatically change magnitude yields and considerably reduced pesticide use compared with non-GM crops.( February 2003). After experiencing great success with GM cotton, C. D Mayee, a senior scientist, and chairman for Agricultural Scientists Recruitment jury said, Indias first expected GM food crop is brinjal. orbital cavity trials of GM brinjal started in August 2007 and is expected to be change by 2009. ( February 2008). Similar challenges regarding GM crops were experienced with Africa, which we will illustrate next. In 2002 an d 2003, many African countries including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were affected with a major food crisis.Unless food aid worth over US $507 zillion was distributed, it was estimated that 13 million sight would suffer extreme starvation by the end of the year. at that place was initial concern from these countries to accept GM foods from the World sustenance create by mental act (WFP) however these countries (excluding Zambia who decided to its satisfaction that GM food aid was non necessary to meet the needs of Zambias population and secured non-GM from other sources) study politicss elected to accept the GM grain, agreeing that the most important factor to order was the need to alleviate hunger and this outweighed any other concerns.Clive James, chairman of the transnational Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, said, India can become self sufficient in food production by use of biotechnology in food crops. He went on to further say, The biggest risk associated with this technology in India is non using it. (, February 2008). In support of the distribution and production of GM crops end-to-end Africa is biotechnologist Dr. Wynand van der Walt ( February 2003). He said the GM function offers opportunities to ensure food security in Africa and that there is no evidence to suggest that it poses a negative threat to human health or the environment.Over 3 billion people on all continents consume foods from GM crops and no proven cases suggest their hazardousness. Dr. Wynand van der Walt (February 2003) utter the following We slang high food prices and high food insecurity. We cannot wait for capacious term form _or_ system of government discussions. The urgency is now and all of us afford an obligation to go out and communicate and counter the misinformation we face every day well-nigh GM crops. Graph (a) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from GM crops pic Foods from GM crop s are less pricy than foods from non-GM crops.Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from GM crops is high (S). Against genetically modified crops Those against the argument that GM crops are the only way to feed the world debate this point of view for a multitude of reasons, round which include the potential negative human and environmental impact. Although certain governments from developing countries like India and Africa support and ca-ca agree to accept foods from GM crops as a way to feed their rapidly growing population, passionate anti-GM activists from these same countries strongly oppose its application and have put pressure on political parties to negative GM technology.In 2006, a large informal network representing organisations and individuals from more than 15 states of India was organize called Coalition for GM Free India (. April 2008). Members of this coalition believe that farmers science and knowledge, peculiarly with regard to ecological gardeni ng, is the only sustainable way forward for farming in India. Their aim is to raise awareness and educate the general public, the media and cultured society groups of the destructiveness of GM crops.The Coalition organised a meeting in Hyderabad where over 250 people took part to protest against the use of GM in their food, including farmers and consumers who have directly suffered from the GM cotton crops including those who have experienced great financial losses, allergies while working in GM cotton crop fields and others who have lost their livestock that grazed on GM cotton crops. There has been a huge outcry from the Indian people to their government to cease GM crop trials. In support of the ban against GM foods in India is leading scientist Dr P M Bhargava (, July 2008).He stated the following The problem is that no one knows what effect these foods will have on us. In animals, we have a good idea well-nigh their possible ill-effects. In science, we collect evidence on the basis of which we make predictions. All our predictions so far are not in party favor of GM foods unless they are tested extensively and exhaustively, which they are not today. Experts are crying themselves hoarse it is for the Indian government to listen. If all our politicians and scientists were committed to their landed estate, not a single GM product would have been permitted in India as of today.I would say that as of today we do not have reasonably conclusive evidence that GM foods are safe. We should therefore practise the precautionary principle and ban their use unless incontrovertible evidence regarding their long-run safety is obtained, which would take 10 to 25 years. It is a pity that alternatives to GM crops such(prenominal) as integrated pest management and the use of bio-pesticides, which are cheaper and better, and organic agriculture, are being ignored by our government in spite of the enormous evidence in their favour.Objection of pass judgment GM crops was Z ambia of Africa which we will point to next. National government officials (NGOs) of Zambia were sceptical in accepting the GM food-aid from the WFP in their time of shortfall. Though they did ultimately reject the GM food from WFP, they did not do so before carrying out a thorough investigation. An expert delegation was assigned to travel to the United States and the European Union where they met with the biotechnology industry, government food safety officials, academic scientists and NGOs with an bet in and expertise on GM food safety consequences.From these meetings, it was opinionated that the risks related with the GM maize were greater than Zambia was comfortable with and declined the WFP food-aid. ( October 2004) Although the Zambian government were under enormous pressure to accept GM grain, their stance was back up by several Zambian and regional non-governmental organisations, including Consumers world-wide (CI) and the Zambian Consumer connectedness (ZACA) which ign ited a campaign to press for alternatives food supplies to be made available to the country.In its campaign, CI lobbied the WFP to explore alternatives for supplying Zambia with non-GM grain from countries where such grain was available. There is very little scientific information regarding the long term health risks derived from GM crops and for this reason, many opinions are formed on the honorable stance that GM food implies. Some of these include the addiction on industrialised nations by developing countries, tampering with nature by mixing genes among species, and labelling of GM crops are not mandatory in some countries, including the United States.With so much uncertainly associated to GM crops and with retrospective gained regarding the famine threat to Zambia in 2002 and 2003, CI provided some recommendations including (. October 2004) (i) That the WFP and the U. S. Agency for International festering should immediately stop exerting pressure on affected developing countr y governments and presenting these countries with a misleading scenario of No Choice. (ii) That the WFP and all donors should provide real choices (i. e. , sources of non-GM food aid) to any country that rejects or restricts GM food aid.Failure to do so renders the WFPs long-standing recognition of the the right to choose meaningless. The WFP has a commerce to actively seek options for providing non-GM foods that are in fact available to countries that prefer the non-GM alternative. (iii) The WFP should put in place additional mechanisms that enable it to respond fitly to situations where liquidator countries impose restrictions on the acceptance of GM food aid. For example, the preferences of recipient countries should be ascertained in advance of a crisis, so that proviso could emphasize making the supply of food sources with different characteristics (e.g. , GM/non-GM) well-nigh match the expected demand. (iv).Consumer organizations in developing countries should inform them selves on the scientific, economic, trade, ethical and other aspects of the debate over GM foods and crops, so that they may constructively engage with their governments when a national risk analysis on this issue is required. Graph (b) illustrates the relationship between price and foods from non-GM crops pic Foods from non-GM crops are more expensive than foods from non-GM crops. Demand for food is high (D), and supplies of food from non-GM crops is low (S).Conclusion The production of food from GM crops certainly proven scientifically that it has the capability of result many of the worlds food-shortage problems as was illustrated in our examples in the developing nations of India and Africa. However to regard on it as being the only way to feed the world would be hasty, especially as there is little data inform of its long term affects on the human race and the environment. In maxim that, to ignore proven potentially beneficial technology would be a careless.Whilst our advan cement in technology is commendable, we must proceed with care to stay off unintentional impairment on human health or the environment. controversy of References Layton, A, Robinson, T & Tucker, IB 2009, Economics for today, 3rd edn, Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Victoria. Environmental Graffiti, GM Crops only way for India to feed itself, says Government, May 2007, viewed 23 family 2009, . Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 family line 2009, .Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2009, viewed 17 September 2009, . Foundation for biotech Awareness and Education, The Political Saga of GM Crops in India, 2008, viewed 25 September 2009.Genetically modified crops in India produced greater yields, reduced pesticide use, new study finds, February 2003, viewed 25 September 2009, . 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