Genetically Modified Food

What is Genetically Modified Food?

Genetically modified (GM) foods are made from crops that have been given specific traits through genetic engineering. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Typically, genetically modified foods are plant products: soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil.

Advantages of GM food

• Crops
  • Enhanced taste and quality
  • Reduced maturation time
  • Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance
  • Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides
  • New products and growing techniques
• Animals
  • Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and fee d efficiency
  • Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk
  • Improved animal health and diagnostic methods
• Environment
  
  • Conservation of soil, water, and energy
  • Better natural waste management
  • More efficient processing
• Society
  • Increased food security for growing populations

Disadvantages

• Sometimes GM crops have allergenic effect
• New viruses could evolve from the mass production of GM crops.Pests may develop resistance to GM crops that have been designed to kill them.
• GM crops may cause harm to the wealth and welfare of animals.
• GM crops may produce ecological side effects (Monarch butterflies).
  
  
  How does it affect society today and in the future?
  
  Genetic modification is an issue which arises every day, although people are not always aware of it. At the moment there is a lot of debate whether GM foods are good or bad. GM Crops are affecting society in many of the foods that we buy. The most common foods are maize, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, canola, soybean and sugar beet. These food items can be found in bread, pasta, chips etc. There are laws which enforce the clear labeling of GM food on the ingredients list which is helping the consumers of our society choose what they buy.

If your interested in this topic,
you can find out more at our forum thread at SGforum
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