Monday, March 11, 2013

Genetically Modified foods (GM foods) - Miracles or Monsters?????


    

                           
                     Genetically Modified foods (or GM foods) are foods derived from genetically modified micro organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding, plant breeding and animal breeding.


        













                            
                                  GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990's. Typically, genetically modified foods are transgenic plant products: rice, cotton, tomatao, brinjal, soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil, etc. Animal products have also been developed, none are currently on the market. In 2006, a pig was controversially engineered to produce omega-3 fatty acids. Researchers have also developed a genetically-modified breed of pigs that are able to absorb plant phosphorus more efficiently, and as a consequence the phosphorus content of their manure is reduced by as much as 60%. Critics have objected to GM foods on several grounds, including safety issues, ecological concerns, and economic concerns raised by the fact that these organisms are subject to intellectual property law.

     

                      The first commercially grown genetically modified whole food crop was a tomato (called FlavrSavr), which was modified to ripen without softening, by Calgene, later a subsidiary of Monsanto. Calgene took the initiative to obtain FDA approval for its release in 1994 without any special labeling, although legally no such approval was required. It was welcomed by consumers who purchased the fruit at a substantial premium over the price of regular tomatoes. However, production problems and competition from a conventionally bred, longer shelf-life variety prevented the product from becoming profitable.
          A tomato produced using similar technology to the Flavr Savr was used by Zeneca to produce tomato paste which was sold in Europe during the summer of 1996.The labeling and pricing were designed as a marketing experiment, which proved, at the time, that European consumers would accept genetically engineered foods. Currently, there are number of food species in which a genetically modified version exists.

                While it is evident that there is a food supply issue, the question is whether GM can solve world hunger problems, or even if that would be the best way to address the issue. Several scientists argue that in order to meet the demand for food in the developing world, a second Green Revolution with increased use of GM crops is needed. Others argue that there is more than enough food in the world and that the hunger crisis is caused by problems in food distribution and politics, not production. Recently some critics and environmentalists have changed their minds on the issue with respect to the need for additional food supplies. Further, it has been widely noted that there are those who consider over-population the real issue here, and that food production is adequate for any reasonable population size.

         Genetic modification is analogous to nuclear power: nobody loves it, but climate change has made its adoption imperative.    Genetic modification offers both faster crop adaptation and a biological, rather than chemical, approach to yield increase.


         On the other hand, many believe that GM food has not been a success and that we should devote our efforts and money into another solution. “We need biodiversity intensification that works with nature’s nutrient and water cycles, not against them,” says Vandana Shiva, the founder of Navdanya, the movement of 500,000 seed keepers and organic farmers in India, argues that GMF's have not increased yields.
         

                    Some claim that genetically modified food help farmers produce, despite the odds or any environmental barriers. While new technology must be tested before it is commercially released, we should be mindful of the risks of not releasing it at all. Anti-science ideology misguidance and failure by governments to prioritize agricultural and rural development in developing countries brought us the food crisis.
              
         There has been a fair consolidation of the nation's food system into the hands of a few multinationals. Global agricultural companies controls the commercial seed market as they develop, license and market genetically altered corn, soybeans and other crops, manipulating the seed market by buying up independent seed companies, patenting seed products, and then spiking prices.  
                  


             
               
Leave apart the GM foods, Think of the poverty stricken and hungry African nations like Somalia. 

            Whether GM foods stay or not, the main question in front of us is how do we combat food crisis in the world??

           The challenge we face is not the challenge of whether we have enough resources to produce, but whether we will change our behavior!!!!!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Good one...worth reading.

Unknown said...

Thank u Simi, hope I can keep putting some gud articles worth reading

ajitnair said...

good work ,dear take care....

Manjula said...

Hi Sangeetha...nice blog..keep the good work...Yes GM foods are customised and may be more tasty but not healthy and the World hunger crisis is due to politics and not production...

Hariprakash said...

I appreciate you sharing this fantastic article post about .GMO Foods