What is your opinion on genetically modified crops?

Question

ethical issue?

Answer 1

Farmers have always been breeding more potent crops, but like the other person said, it's not normal to introduce animal DNA into plants and pesticides into their seeds. Sometimes this produces extra proteins that plants would never have otherwise called prions (proteinaceous infectious particles). Over time, these proteins can cause brain damage, paralysis and death!!

I think these corporations have taken it too far and started thinking they can play God, and that is never a good thing. Especially when you consider that Monsanto has the government in its pocket through lobbying.. it has practically become its own watchdog. And you better believe the top 1% rich and powerful people in the world would like nothing better than for 3/4 of the world's population to die off.

But, if you don't consider the fact that most cattle in the US is fed a diet of GM crops (who knows what's gonna happen with that..), it's really not as big a deal (yet) as people are making it out be. Most fruits in vegetables that you find in stores are not GM, and the ones that are are actually proud of this. Sometimes they will put something like "this product has been engineered by our food scientists to be the freshest you have ever tasted!" It's really sick.

What really pisses me off, though, is how they try to make the argument that this is to make more crops to feed the world, but people are starving not because there isn't enough food, but because governments would rather have it rot than give it to the poor. The very reason why so many small farmers are going out of business is because there is TOO much food. It's become nearly impossible to make a profit as a small-time farm owner. And, actually, GM food has been banned from being eligible for handouts to 3rd world countries, nor are they allowed to use the technology.

Oh no, this is for selling Roundup, making a profit off of farmers who can't own genetically modified seeds and eventually wiping out small/organic farms so that every person on the face of the Earth will HAVE to eat tampered food from seeds that HAVE to be paid for, and who knows what they will decide to put in it then. Like they say, you control a population's food source, you control the population.

Answer 2

The subject of genetically modified crops is a very complex issue, as such it is not a black-and-white issue.

Genetic modification can be used beneficially:

- Golden Rice - rice genetically engineered to contain Vitamin A  to help areas with Vitamin A deficiency. (source 1)

- Protato - potatoes genetically engineered to contain more protein. (source 2)

Questionable practices of genetic modification include:

- Bt-crops - plants that produce their own pesticides (in this case Bacillus thuringiensis). Although Bt is shown to be human safe, the amount of Bt-toxin produced by the plants is several times higher than simply spraying the pesticide, which may lead to problems. Furthermore, the continual presence of Bt leads to a rise of Bt-resistant pests, thus rendering the chemical ineffective. (Source 3)

- Pesticide resistant crops - prevents herbicides damage on crops. (Source 4) Although not harmful in itself, it encourages farmers to spray more herbicides than they would normally. The additional herbicides, of course, is not necessarily beneficial to humans consuming the crops.

Of course, as with all things, there are those who would abuse the technology (The technology is developed soles for profit, offers little or no benefit to society, with potentially dangerous consequences):

- Terminator Technology - Plants genetically engineered to be sterile. Made solely to force farmer to buy their seeds every year, since the plants cannot be replanted. The main danger is the possible transmission of the gene to non-Terminator plants, making them sterile as well. (Source 5)

The benefits of genetically modified crops are undeniable, but they must be tightly regulated (at least better regulated than the USDA on our food).

GMOs, once released into the world are very difficult (if not impossible) to recall. With mass starvation as a possible outcome if something goes horribly wrong, great diligence is necessary.

Answer 3

They've been around for over 50 years. Ever eat a Trisket cracker? The grain is one of the first GM grains in existance.

What I personally have a problem with is the introduction of animal genetics into plants for human consumption. That is dangerous.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

I find GMO anything very disturbing!!  Although I can recognize how incredible it is that scientists even have this capability, I strongly believe this technology is not even remotely understood and the studies relating to its safety are often botched.  Ultimately GMO will destroy our food supply and continue to poison people everywhere unless we utilize our rights to be properly informed and put an end to Monsanto's monopoly.  Ethically  I think the issues surrounding GMOs are being handled irresponsibly as  I believe I have the right not to eat GMO food and this freedom to choose is being stolen from me.  Also I think whether you believe in evolution or creationism nature is just perfect the way it is without people trying to alter it and mess it up even more.