This essay uses the Rogerian model of developing argumentative essays.
The paper highlights debate on whether the consumption of genetically modified foods (GMO) are safe for humans. This debate has raged for a long time with various researchers and scientists presenting diverse arguments in support and opposing the consumption of such foods by anchoring their arguments on the scientific.
Health Risks of GMO Foods
For a long period, healthy eating has been linked with eating organic foods whose production (planting, controlling pests and storage) does not involve any chemicals. Many nutritionists have maintained that consumption of GMO foods negatively affects the human, with claims that the genetically modified food can cause cancer and overgrowth of other organs of the body. The World Health Organization summarizes that three health issues result from the producing and eating of GMO foods. These issues include outcrossing, gene transfer, and in some instances allergic reactions. The primary intention of developing GMO foods was the need to increase food production and safety. However, it turns out that GMO is a leading cause of health, economic, and environmental risks meaning it is more harmful than helpful (Hillstrom, 2012).
Environmental Impact of GMO Foods
McHughen (2014), argues the main reason for crop engineering to produce GMO foods was to eliminate using herbicides and pesticides by generating more disease and pest resistant crops. Therefore, meaning that our environment will be less polluted thus benefiting both humans and animals. On the other hand, despite the increased resistance of plants to diseases, the superweeds and superbugs should be controlled with pesticides, and the use of these pesticides poses a threat to the people who spray the pesticides although this can be avoided by using protective gears when doing the work. The chemicals also drain to water sources and can affect millions of animals who feed and drink near the water sources including fish. In the United States, the number of butterflies' populations has been decimated, and some animals are born with congenital disabilities. Meaning that there is a good reason to worry and eliminate the use of GMO foods and the pesticides used to kill superweeds and superbugs. To conclude, it is essential to weigh the benefits of growing GMOs versus the effects of the inputs used in the production process.
Food Security and Economic Implications
Experts expect that the growth of GMO foods in the developing world will increase food security after the introduction of crops which can withstand unfavorable conditions including floods and drought. Caused mainly due to the global warming and climate change effects in the developing and underdeveloped countries which are anticipated to result in adverse weather conditions which affect agriculture. The introduction of GMO foods will benefit many farmers besides alleviating the problem of food shortage. Still, yet, this will increase the dependency to supply of chemicals and seeds by transnational corporations, and this will be costly to small-scale farmers who save their seeds year after year, making them unable to match up their crop production and with the competitive production of food by large-scale farmers. We can, therefore, deduce that this will in the long term be economically unstable for the farmers because they will spend more in buying the seeds and chemicals which they would otherwise have not purchased in case they did not start growing GMOs.
Controlling Pests and Diseases
Besides, advocates of GMO foods claim that crop engineering will eliminate or drastically reduce the use of chemicals in controlling pests and diseases. According to the proponents, GMO is beneficial especially to large-scale farmers since it lowers the costs of buying and supplying spraying herbicides and pesticides. On the other hand, planting disease and pest resistant crops, and especially in large areas will lead to the evolution of superweeds and superbugs which are usually resistant to toxins added to crops and that more harmful pesticides will be needed to control the new pests. The resistant of super weeds and super bugs are types of plants and pests respectively which are resistant to pesticides and herbicides, and they need more effective and stronger pesticides to kill them.
Flavor and Texture of GMO Foods
Last but not least, GMO foods usually have improved flavor and textures than the naturally grown foods. They are also fresher for long with extended shelf life, and for this reason, there will be fewer wastes from the environment. In a survey conducted in 2007, 60% of the consumers preferred genetically modified tomatoes to naturally grown ones. Also in blind tastings, GMO foods have a higher rating than the natural alternatives. On the other hand, farmers who won't afford to shift to planting GMO will find it difficult to compete with the farmers selling GMO. Hence, farmers can produce more GMO foods, enabling buyers to make more savings because they can buy products which last for a more extended period although this will decrease the farmer's income because they the supply will be high than the demand. To sum up, despite that the fact that this will have a positive effect for the buyers, it is also good to consider the economic status of the farmers, and therefore GMO's should be discouraged because this will affect the agriculture sector which could be the main economic activity for many people.
In a nutshell, genetically modified foods are not just unnatural but they are also potentially unsafe for human consumption, to the environment and they also have an adverse trickle-down effect that affects the animals (McHughen, 2014). It is evident that most of the main advantage of GMOs is just the economic benefit that results from increased yields, saving on buying pesticides and herbicides and the preference by many consumers because of enhanced flavors and long shelf life. However, it is good to look at the bigger picture to determine whether these advantages should let the agriculture sector forgo the need to ensure that large populations of people consume safe and healthy food that won't affect their health. Even though there lacks no concrete evidence on the effects of GMOs, prevention is better than cure, however, and so it is essential to take precautions before fully embracing the idea of growing GMO foods.
Personal Perspective
From a personal point of view, genetically modified foods are unnatural, and the effects related to the consumption of these foods will, in the long run, turn to be devastating to the human health, possibly leading to excessive economic expenditures in the treatment of ailments brought about by eating GMO foods. Tentatively, some chronic illnesses such as cancer and diabetes are likely to affect human health because of the altered nutrition content. To conclude, the production of GMO foods is neither safe for the environment nor human consumption, and more research should be done so that a conclusive decision will be made and this will help in determining whether GMO foods should be grown or not. After weighing the options, it is clear, that growing of GMOs should be discouraged because the effects have long-term adverse effects and short-term benefits.
References
Hillstrom, K. (2012). Genetically modified foods. Detroit: Lucent Books.
McHughen, A. (2014). Pandora's picnic basket: The potential and hazards of genetically modified foods. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
