Golden Rice Essay

Decent Essays
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been widely discussed throughout the world since its discovery in the 1980s. In the mid-1990s, the first genetically modified food, tomatoes, was created and praised by scientists everywhere (Woolsey). However, this didn’t go without backlash from people around the world stating that genetically modified foods were “unethical and dangerous” to the economy, environment, and people. Although GMOs have already been proven safe by science, a majority of people still refuse to accept the testing or eating of genetically modified foods (Anderson 274). A more recent issue of genetically modified foods is rice, specifically “golden rice.” Golden rice is genetically modified to boost Vitamin A levels, which …show more content…
Specific benefits weren’t stated, but scientists promised that golden rice would increase the nutritional status of its consumers. After years of more research and experimentation, scientists then announced in 2005 that a new type of golden rice was created. This golden rice, dubbed as “golden rice 2,” contained higher levels of beta-carotene, which is converted into Vitamin A by the body. However, this golden rice has yet to be distributed as scientists are still working on testing and finalizing its …show more content…
The production of golden rice has been proved to reduce pesticides in farms and increase crop yields (“List of Pros and Cons of Golden Rice”). With the increase in the amount of pesticides used today to care for rice crops, some insects whose work is necessary to the production of the crops are being killed. Also, although the production of rice today is already abundant, it will not be enough to feed the rapidly growing population. The production of golden rice can fix these issues. Since it reduces pesticide use, fewer insects would be killed. Therefore, the birth to death ratio of insects will at least be able to level out so that they can continue to help us grow crops without any problems. The higher rice yields from the production of golden rice will help us feed the growing population and current population in which there are still starving

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Genetically modified foods have always been looked upon negatively. Though it may reap in benefits, the potential risks weigh heavily in the minds of the many against them. By allowing this product to go forth, many risk are welcomed, including the commingling of the product with crops for regular consumption and therefore, risking mass human health. In this case, Ventria planned to increase their acreage of planted genetically modified rice from 50 acres to 120 acres.…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For one of the subsidiary claims, the author states that because of the complexity of the genetic engineering we do not have much information on how the golden rice would be processed in our body. With such unknown factors we face huge risks concerning our health. Going back to the main claim that there are many unknown aspects that will lead us to unpredictable, possibly damaging, results. Another subsidiary claim the author mentions is the fact that rice is a staple food all over the world and the contamination of the product due to genetic engineering is another huge risk. This furthermore proves that there are great risks which makes genetically modified rice, not the best solution to Vitamin A…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The author, Matthew Feldmann identifies that there have been recent arguments about the safety of GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms. He particularly notes that most debate has come in the areas of crops, specifically rice and soybeans, some of the staple crops of diets worldwide. He uses the rhetorical device of logos, a way of persuading the targeted audience by employing reason or logic, by claiming that although “foods derived from GM crops have been consumed by hundreds of millions of people across the world for more than 15 years,” the public remains mostly uninformed of what GM plants actually are, thereby unknowing of the potential advantages, disadvantages, and range of applications for which they can be used (Key, Ma, Drake).…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    One section of the article discusses the benefits of beneficial plants that can both attract beneficial insects and filter out irrigation systems. These plants are often also placed away from crops in order to attract animals that feed on crops and direct them away from the general location of the yielding product. Introducing new species of plants from foreign lands to protect crops also introduces opportunity for the environment to fall victim to harm by invasive species. The online article took no consideration whatsoever at the possibility of creating more damage by implementing these species into their growing regimen. Agriculture is not the first and only place to use beneficial species as a means of land protection, and it certainly is not the first time to be seeing the plan take a wrong…

    • 1608 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Ventria Bioscience Case

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The problems, Scott Deeter and Ventria Bioscience face, are from environmentalists who are concerned with the ecological impact this genetically modified rice may do to the region. While fearing the spread of contamination, the opposing groups understand the potential harm this plant could do if it were to escape. Crossbreeding with other plants has the potential to create a “Super weed” resistant to herbicides. Furthermore the plant may also utilize the properties to become resilient to insects. Outside markets, which import rice from California, may be deterred from buying rice from the region.…

    • 1353 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Gmo Game Research Papers

    • 2197 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The World Health Organization (WHO) defines genetically modified organisms(GMO) as those organisms in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally(WHO,2002). The issue of safety of the GM crops and the “uncertainty” about GM crops have been hurdles to the wide scale adoption of GM…

    • 2197 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    China has a very long history, with many triumphs and achievements comes failures, the improvement of Post Classical China’s economy was an achievement. The advancements in agriculture, technology, and the increase in population, had a major impact on China's economy. China’s advancements in agriculture, technologically, and the sustainability of the population was a great factor that played a role in China’s economy. Agriculture is a main factor of improving China’s economy because it helps improve the growth of crops and the production of food to increase the population which increases the economy. Fast ripening rice was acquired in Vietnam when imposing into Southern China and Vietnam, they found a strain of fast ripening rice.…

    • 560 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Genetically Modified Organisms, most commonly known as GMOs, have been an extremely controversial subject since their rise in popularity among commercial farmers. These GMOs have created various social, economic, and cultural issues within the US and Europe. As defined by the Non GMO Project, a GMO “is a plant, animal, microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional cross breeding methods (Non GMO Project, 2).” Farmers have been modifying crops for a long time to make their produce more satisfactory, however, when the switch occured…

    • 1067 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Misconceptions of Genetically Modified Foods Many foods are marketed as “organic,” or “GMO-free,” claiming they are healthier and safer than genetically modified foods. Does this really mean a better product, or are these claims ignorant misconceptions written off as fact? Genetically modified foods, sometimes called genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are foods that have been genetically altered to have traits that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. These foods contain DNA extracted from another organism to introduce a new trait.…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Genetic Roulette Genetically Modified Organisms, otherwise known as GMO’s, could potentially stop world hunger; however, the risks outweigh the greater good. The mixing of genetic material can raise the risks of allergic reactions to foods. Furthermore, tests have shown that many hazards and medical complications come from consuming genetically modified foods. In addition, genetically modified foods do not only affect foods like tomatoes but meats as well. Yes, Genetically Modified Organisms come in larger harvests, provide bigger than average results and are pesticide resistant; however, the risks that come with consumption of GMOs are too dangerous.…

    • 1203 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Arguments Against Gmo

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Ali3 Many people have a huge misconception about GMOs especially GM foods that they are harmful to both the human body and the environment, but various studies have proven quite the opposite. GMOs can bring a plethora of benefits to almost every industry ranging from medical use to agricultural but is held back by a majority that believes in false accusations and unsupported studies. GMOs have the backing of almost every scientist and person who knows even a little about the subject of biotechnology yet still there is a huge opposition of mainly people who have fallen to Anti-GMO propaganda. In May 2016 the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine issued a report about GMOs saying they “found no substantiated evidence that foods from GE crops were less safe than foods from non-GE crops.”…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Pros And Cons Of GMO

    • 1705 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Do The Pros of GMO’s outweigh the Cons? Since the introduction on the genetically modified organism in the mid to late 1990’s many people have debated on their economic and environmental impact, as well as their safety for human consumption. Many companies like Monsanto and Dow Agro-science that produce these bioengineered foods have conducted research on the topics of environmental and economic benefits as well as the safety of GMO foods. The results of the studies conclude that genetically modified foods are safe, economically beneficial, environmentally sensible, and have no danger to the people that consume them.…

    • 1705 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gmo Foods Persuasive Essay

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages

    GMO foods are such an embedded part of our food system these days, but it’s not difficult to think back to a time when food was simpler and healthier. Although GMO 's have a been around for thousands of years, when new discoveries arrived at the tip of our hands in the early 1980s, a conflict over ethics, health, and long-term environmental safety have become the main issue of concern for many. The ongoing debate over genetically modified organisms can get brutal at times, and most often, very confusing due to a lot of misleading information. In overview, a GMO is a plant, animal, or any organism, whose genetic material has been modified or manipulated through a process called genetic engineering. Although many organisms can be genetically…

    • 1472 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Gmo Foods

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages

    UNCC 100 Global food security is a rising issue in the modern age. As the populations increases so does the need for an increased amount of food. In 2013 842 million people in the world do not have an adequate supply to food, however since 1990, 17% less people are now starving (Monet, 2014). The rising challenge in global food security is not producing more food; it is ensuring that the food that is produced is distributed evenly between the different classes of people.…

    • 1129 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Great Essays

    Gmos Argumentative Essay

    • 1424 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Genetically modified organisms also known as GMOs have been an area of hot debate over the last few years. In this article we will explore the arguments for and against GMOs and at the end dispel the fear-mongering and show that humanity has been modified organisms since the beginning of recorded human history; we are just much better and faster at it now than in the past 1,000s years. The goal in GMOs is to modify organisms (generally food stock such as livestock and extensive agriculture, plants), at the genetic level, to obtain better quality offspring. Companies such as Monsanto and other agriculture, industrial giants aim to create plants that taste better, have better nutrition qualities, are resistant to drought, pest, and other environmental…

    • 1424 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays