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Genetically modified canola: Agronomic benefits and environmental disadvantages
The world’s food source is facing selection and sustainability pressures from unpredictable climatic changes, massive growth in population and continuous reduction in agricultural land (Nicolia et al. 77). Genetically modified (GM) crops seem to be the solution to feeding billions of people, although their negative long-term impacts are still a heavily debated topic (Green, 2012). Amongst the long list of GM crops, GM canola is one of the major crops in Canada, Northern USA, and Australia. In Western Canada, GM canola occupies over 30% of the agricultural land (Brewin and Malla 257).
Development of GM canola
Canadian plant breeders Baldur Stefansson and Keith Downey first coined the word ‘canola’ for a naturally modified rapeseed variety that they had developed in 1978 using traditional plant breeding methods (Brewin and Malla 258). Non-GM canola was difficult to grow due to weed encroachment by wild mustard and stinkweed. Traditional breeding to obtain …show more content…
However, three decades later, the issue has not yet been resolved. In fact, herbicide use has tripled causing more damage to the soil and possibly nearby water resources. On the other hand, GM crops have provided food security to African farmers in battle menacing weeds such as Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica (Green, 2012). Although there are many claims opposing the use of GMOs, there is very little hard evidence implicating them while evidence portraying their usefulness is sound and loaded with facts supporting the benefits of GMOs. Therefore, I personally believe that GM crops and organisms should be given a chance to prove their worth and not be shunned by that fact that they are different and beyond our
Instructor’s Name
Course Number
Date
Genetically modified canola: Agronomic benefits and environmental disadvantages
The world’s food source is facing selection and sustainability pressures from unpredictable climatic changes, massive growth in population and continuous reduction in agricultural land (Nicolia et al. 77). Genetically modified (GM) crops seem to be the solution to feeding billions of people, although their negative long-term impacts are still a heavily debated topic (Green, 2012). Amongst the long list of GM crops, GM canola is one of the major crops in Canada, Northern USA, and Australia. In Western Canada, GM canola occupies over 30% of the agricultural land (Brewin and Malla 257).
Development of GM canola
Canadian plant breeders Baldur Stefansson and Keith Downey first coined the word ‘canola’ for a naturally modified rapeseed variety that they had developed in 1978 using traditional plant breeding methods (Brewin and Malla 258). Non-GM canola was difficult to grow due to weed encroachment by wild mustard and stinkweed. Traditional breeding to obtain …show more content…
However, three decades later, the issue has not yet been resolved. In fact, herbicide use has tripled causing more damage to the soil and possibly nearby water resources. On the other hand, GM crops have provided food security to African farmers in battle menacing weeds such as Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica (Green, 2012). Although there are many claims opposing the use of GMOs, there is very little hard evidence implicating them while evidence portraying their usefulness is sound and loaded with facts supporting the benefits of GMOs. Therefore, I personally believe that GM crops and organisms should be given a chance to prove their worth and not be shunned by that fact that they are different and beyond our