Rachel Binder
English 9, 3
Hardy
December 2016
The Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture For centuries, farmers used generation's worth of knowledge to breed seeds for their most desireable traits. Today, 90 percent of all corn, soybean, canola and sugar crops are altered either in the laboratory in ways that cannot be achieved with traditional farming techniques or inserted with genetic material, to exhibit traits that withstand drought and soil erosion . Many argue that GMO usage harms the environment and human health, while others believe that GMO usage provides pest and drought resistance for crops, and allows for third world countries to have sustainable farming techniques with greater nutrition that traditional farming …show more content…
Crops are able to grow on substandard soil, produce high quality protein necessary in less fortunate countries, without the need for harmful fertilizer. It has been calculated that the life of 25 percent of children in developing countries could be spared by providing them with diets that include crops biofortified with provitamin A (beta-carotene) and zinc, such as golden rice (Welch). Genetically modified foods allow starving people in developing countries to have the nutrients they need to survive and thrive. A growing population means more usage of resources, which indicates the need for a sustainable food supply for the …show more content…
Only 1 percent of Earth’s water is easily accessible freshwater. This extraordinarily small percentage is split up for use in public supply, irrigation, livestock, domestic, industrial and mining companies, and the thermoelectric power industry. (Perlman). As Palmer states, “there is not nearly enough fresh water available to provide this standard to a global population expected to exceed 9 billion by mid-century.” If the freshwater supply runs out, new drought resistance techniques or somehow converting the abundant supply of saltwater to usable freshwater will become necessary for survival on Earth. Scientists today are working to create genetically modified crop varieties that can withstand severe drought, expected more often with climate change, or thrive on arid lands now considered unsuitable for farming. Only the widespread embrace of genetically modified crops can solve the persistent problem of hunger and using up too many resources too quickly, and lessen the impact of pesticide usage without doing untold damage to the
English 9, 3
Hardy
December 2016
The Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture For centuries, farmers used generation's worth of knowledge to breed seeds for their most desireable traits. Today, 90 percent of all corn, soybean, canola and sugar crops are altered either in the laboratory in ways that cannot be achieved with traditional farming techniques or inserted with genetic material, to exhibit traits that withstand drought and soil erosion . Many argue that GMO usage harms the environment and human health, while others believe that GMO usage provides pest and drought resistance for crops, and allows for third world countries to have sustainable farming techniques with greater nutrition that traditional farming …show more content…
Crops are able to grow on substandard soil, produce high quality protein necessary in less fortunate countries, without the need for harmful fertilizer. It has been calculated that the life of 25 percent of children in developing countries could be spared by providing them with diets that include crops biofortified with provitamin A (beta-carotene) and zinc, such as golden rice (Welch). Genetically modified foods allow starving people in developing countries to have the nutrients they need to survive and thrive. A growing population means more usage of resources, which indicates the need for a sustainable food supply for the …show more content…
Only 1 percent of Earth’s water is easily accessible freshwater. This extraordinarily small percentage is split up for use in public supply, irrigation, livestock, domestic, industrial and mining companies, and the thermoelectric power industry. (Perlman). As Palmer states, “there is not nearly enough fresh water available to provide this standard to a global population expected to exceed 9 billion by mid-century.” If the freshwater supply runs out, new drought resistance techniques or somehow converting the abundant supply of saltwater to usable freshwater will become necessary for survival on Earth. Scientists today are working to create genetically modified crop varieties that can withstand severe drought, expected more often with climate change, or thrive on arid lands now considered unsuitable for farming. Only the widespread embrace of genetically modified crops can solve the persistent problem of hunger and using up too many resources too quickly, and lessen the impact of pesticide usage without doing untold damage to the