Scientists have been able to investigate and modify the metabolic potentials of many microbes thanks to developments in recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology in modern society. The effective application of genetic engineering technology in the present world is demonstrated by the concrete proof of genetically modified species. The modern world's population has accepted the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in a number of fields, including agriculture, health, bioremediation, as well as in the textile and food industries, among other uses.
To increase chemical selectivity and molecular diversity, genetic engineering technology outperforms conventional methods. Among other advantages, it helps with increased supply, disease resistance, and productivity. While the adoption of the GMOs presents substantial benefits to the world populations, critics cite several adverse effects of the modern technology. Of more concern is the health effects associated with the consumption of genetically modified foods. In this respect, some countries have laid regulations on the use of GMOs among their citizens, while others have imposed a total ban on the importation or use of such foods. This article delves deep into the GMOs and regulations on their use across the globe, with a particular example of Italy.
Genetically Modified Organisms
The heightened global debate on the use of GMOs has brought into limelight the controversy surrounding the use of the modern technology as well as its health effects. Genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) often refers to crop plants that have undergone manipulation using the latest genetic engineering techniques to create desirable products for both human and animal consumption (Whitman 2).
Scientists have modified the crop plants in the laboratory to produce organisms with desirable traits, such as drought resistant, disease resistant, and more productive plants. In so doing, genetic engineering has presented considerable benefits to the contemporary global society, including increasing food production, availing drought and disease resistant crops, improved nutritional value of the crops, medicine, and vaccines in hospitals, among other several benefits.
Benefits of GMOs
The rapid population growth in the current setting has put enormous pressure on the existing limited resources. Today, the global community has supposed the six billion mark, and estimates show double projection in the next 50 years. As a result, the booming population is likely to pose a challenge to the current food supply if stakeholders fail to take necessary measures to counter the challenge. The adoption of genetic engineering technology in the production of GM foods is a sure way of increasing food supply to meet the needs of the rapidly growing world populations (Whitman 2). The modern technology mentioned above can achieve such an initiative through a variety of ways discussed below.
Pest Resistance
Insect pests have often affected crop production to a great extent, thereby causing devastating losses for farmers as well as consumers in the global arena.These losses may include financial implications as well as reduced supply of food, thus orchestrating starvation among the global populace.
Farmers have spent many resources in purchasing pesticides to tackle the pest menace, an issue that has both financial implications to the farmers and consumers as the latter often shy away from consuming pesticide-treated food crops. Through genetic engineering technology, scientists can avert the problems mentioned above by manipulating the crops to increase food production as well as avail pest-resistant plants.
Disease and Drought Resistant Crops
Genetic engineering has also made it possible to create plants that are resistant to both drought and diseases. According to Whitman, plant biologists have utilized genetic engineering technology to develop crops that are resistant to disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, virus, and fungi (2). The rapid growth in the global populations has presented more challenges to farming as most of the people use farmland for housing purposes. As a result, farmers have no alternative except to grow crops in places that may not be suitable for agriculture. Through genetic engineering, farmers will be able to grow GM crops that can withstand the drought or other unfavorable conditions.
Nutrition
Malnutrition has become rampant in the global community, particularly among people in the developing nations. It is notable that the impoverished people in the developing countries often depend on one type of food crop such as maize or rice as their staple food. Such overreliance on one type of food is the primary cause of malnutrition in the affected regions. Whitman notes that manipulating such crops through genetic engineering to add more nutrients such as minerals and vitamins is likely to alleviate the nutritional deficiencies, thereby curbing malnutrition (3).
Pharmaceuticals
The challenges attributed to the production and storage of medicines and vaccines in the developing world calls for the adoption of alternative measures to address the problems. Whitman notes that scientists are exploring a variety of options to develop a form of vaccine consumable in other media such as potatoes and tomatoes (3). According to the author mentioned above, such vaccines will present huge benefits, including ease of shipping and storage, as well as administration compared to the injectable vaccines.
Criticisms against GMOs
While proponents of the modern technology highlight the benefits of GMOs, critics cite several adverse effects of the technology. Religious groups, environmental activists, scientists, and professional associations, as well as government officials, have raised concerns with the agribusiness for neglecting the potential hazards attributed to the consumption of GMOs while pursuing profits. The government also takes blame for failing to enact stringent regulations on the production and subsequent consumption of GM foods. For instance, legitimate concerns have emerged over the use of genetic engineering technology in crops.
According to Whitman, the process of genetic engineering may lead to the transfer of genes to non-targeted species (5). For example, crop plants that have undergone genetic engineering to tolerate herbicide and weeds may cross-breed, thereby enabling the transfer of such genes to the weeds. As a result, "super-weeds" will emerge, with the herbicide-tolerant traits, an issue that is likely to pose an enormous challenge to farmers (Whitman 5). Various kinds of literature have associated the GM foods with the occurrence of adverse health effects among consumers. While there is no substantive evidence to prove the relationship between GM foods and such adverse health effects, stakeholders have called for the regulation of the production and consumption of such foods among the global populace.
Regulations on GMOs
There has been enormous pressure on professional and religious bodies, environmental activists, and other scientists to establish a regulatory framework to establish the effects of the various GM plants. However, different governments have responded to such calls differently given the prevailing political, economic, and social environment in their countries (Skogstad 321). The Italy's food laws, for instance, conform to the European Union rules to the extent that there is harmony in the region's laws.
However, member countries are likely to utilize their independent laws in cases where the European laws fail to give guidance on certain issues or are the only framework for that matter. The fundamental principle behind the adoption of a single market is to ensure free movement of food products throughout the European market as long as they comply with the required standards.
On December 11, 2016, the Italian government imposed a new EU regulation that makes it illegal, the cultivation of GMOs. Such a directive was in tandem with the Legislative Decree No. 227 of November 14, 2016, of the EU laws. It is also worthy to note that Italy applies the EU-harmonized laws on GMOs, including production, consumption, and labeling of GM foods (Skogstad 321).
Conclusion
The debate on genetically-modified organisms is far from over as antagonistic views on the concerns on environmental, safety, and economic issues of the GM foods continue to dog the global populace. While genetic engineering has provided excellent benefits to the agricultural, health, and economic sectors, critics of the modern technology call for elaborate measures to ascertain the effects of GM foods on human health and the environment.
As noted, genetic engineering has enabled the provision of crop plants that are not only drought and disease resistant but also ensured availability of food supply to address food insecurity in the world. Besides, through genetically engineered crops, the developing nations can address malnutrition among other food-related challenges.
However, issues such as gene transfer to the non-target species may present adverse impacts as discussed above. For instance, the transfer of herbicide-resistant gene to weeds may develop "super-weed" which is hard to control, thereby creating unwarranted problems to the farmers and consumers alike. In this respect, various governments and law enforcement agencies have adopted different approaches to regulating GM foods. Italy, for instance, has harmonized its food laws with the EU laws, thereby inheriting much of the region's legislations. For example, Italy has banned the cultivation of GM foods in the country as well as enacted laws and regulations on the production, importation, and labeling of GM foods.
Works Cited
König, Ariane, et al. “Assessment of the safety of foods derived from genetically modified (GM) crops.” Food and Chemical Toxicology 42.7 (2004): 1047-1088.
Skogstad, Grace. “Legitimacy and/or policy effectiveness?: network governance and GMO regulation in the European Union.” Journal of European Public Policy 10.3 (2003): 321-338.
Whitman, Deborah B. “Genetically modified foods: harmful or helpful?.” CSA Discovery guides (2000): 1-13.
