Issues With Genetically Modified Crops

Foods that are genetically modified with the help of biotechnology that involves the use of non-traditional, laboratory based methods, are known as GM foods. Genetically modified (GM) crops are increasingly gaining acceptance and at the same time consumers concern about the purity of food is also increasing (Kamle. S, 2013). Over the last few years, number of genetically modified crop plants (GMP) have been developed and marketed, at the same time leaving a negative impact on the environment.

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Among the various issues related to GM, one of the primary issue regarding GM crops is that they are difficult to be brought under regulation or control once it is discerned that the application of such was not a fecund measure (Grant, 2013).

  • Many European environmental organizations, NGOs and other public interest groups have been actively protesting against the GM foods and its widely accepted practice (Riedel. H).
  • A significant reason for this is that proper resisting methods for such are yet to be discovered by the scientists. At the national and international level, the political response was a systematic regulation on these concerns by means of the convention on Biological Diversity.
  • Mutual consensus has been reached by the UN, where each country should install the scientific biosafety committees to assess the safety of GM organisms (Amstel. M, 2011).

The application of GM crops has raised various social issues not only locally but internationally as well. Food choices are very much influenced by a large number of factors, including social and cultural factor (Butler. D, 1999).

  • Many farmers, NGOs have shown their concern on the monopolization of the world food market by large multinationals companies that are very much control the distribution of GM seeds.
  • Another major social issue is that the new GM organisms might be patented so that itself could become commercial property (Poppy, G. M. 2004).
  • According to Paparini, 2004, despite of the future promises and high adaption rates of GM crops & food, concerns related to the impact of genetically modified GM crops are on the rise.

It has been reported that implementation of GM crops has not rendered any economic stimulation to the farmers using them (Holdrege, 2004).

  • They could not discern any added advantage at either the entire farm-level or field-level analysis (Fernandez-Cornejo & William, 2002).
  • However, the strong investments into the modern industrial infrastructure signify that the farmers are bound to apply the nascent biotechnological measures irrespective of the problems they beget (Holdrege & Talbott, 2000; Holdrege & Talbott, 2001).
  • One particular example in terms of economic benefits can be taken of South Africa, which is the biggest producer of GM crops in African continent and have economically benefitted from the adaption of GM technology (James, 2011).

With the recent technological advancements, it is very likely that new developments will take place in agriculture. Development of newer transgene crops along with the detection method is likely to be improved. However the concern on GM foods is increasing internationally, not only consumers but also many NGOs and public interest groups have raised their voice against the growing use of GM food.

 

REFERENCES

 

  1. 1.      Amstel. M, 2011, ‘NIMBY or how do the rural neighbors respond to genetically modified (GM) crops? An exploration of the structure of reactions by inhabitants in rural communities in The Netherlands to the commercial cultivation of GM crops in their community’ Vol. 42, Issue, 3 PP – 349-361
  2. Butler, D. (1999). European Union tightens GMO regulations. Genetically modified organisms. Nature, 400(6739), 7
  3. Fernandez-Cornejo, J. & William, D.M. (2002). Adoption of Bioengineered Crops. Agricultural Economic Report. 810 (1), pp. 11–20.
  4. Grant, S. (2013).10 Problems Genetically Modified Foods Are Already Causing. Available: http://listverse.com/2013/06/22/10-problems-genetically-modified-foods-are-already-causing/. Last accessed 30th Jul, 2015.
  5. Holdrege, C. (2004). The Trouble with Genetically Modified Crops. The Nature Institute. 11 (1), pp. 3-7.
  6. James, C., 2011. Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops. ISAAA, Ithaca, NY (No. 43: ISAAA: http//isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/43/. Accession date: 01.05.2012).
  7. 7.      Kamle. S, 2013, ‘Genetically modified crops: Detection strategies and biosafety issues’ Vol 552, Issue 2 pp – 123-132
  8. Poppy, G. M. (2004). Geneflow from GM plants–towards a more quantitative risk assessment. Trends in biotechnology, 22(9), 436-438.
  9. Paparini, A., & Romano-Spica, V. (2004). Public health issues related with the con‐ sumption of food obtained from genetically modified organisms. Biotechnology annual review, 10, 85-122.
  10. H, Semtanska. I, ‘Social and Economic Issues – Genetically Modified Food’.