Few of us take the time to contemplate the scale of food production - which is understandable when we live in an era of cheap fast food and 24 hour supermarket openings. However is it important that we take an interest in our food 's origin and preparation? Should we be alarmed about the real contents of our pre-packaged food? These questions have been part of a interminable debate specifically regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
For years "selective breeding" within traditional farming has been used to improve crops but this technique often passed on undesirable genes. Alternatively modern biotechnology allows for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes, thereby permitting scientists to develop crops with specific beneficial traits and reduce unwanted ones. supposedly GM crops offer nutritious and better tasting foods, higher yields with disease and pest resistant plants.These benefits seem appealing, considering the world population has topped 7.5 billion and adequate food supplies for developing countries is a concern. Nevertheless some find the concept of interfering with the natural agricultural system unnecessary and disconcerting. Dr Don Huber a retired scientist Purdue University explains “There’s tremendous potential there. It’s a matter of using that …show more content…
They do have potential to greatly help the agriculture industry, while at the same time they raise many safety as well environmental concerns. These issues need to be looked at by everyone as we all are affected by them. Each of us could spend many hours reading detailed reports and come to different conclusions on the value of genetically engineered foods as well as the ethics. The decisions on GMO 's and foods will ultimately be made by consumers and the more reliable and impartial information that is available to them the
For years "selective breeding" within traditional farming has been used to improve crops but this technique often passed on undesirable genes. Alternatively modern biotechnology allows for the transfer of only one or a few desirable genes, thereby permitting scientists to develop crops with specific beneficial traits and reduce unwanted ones. supposedly GM crops offer nutritious and better tasting foods, higher yields with disease and pest resistant plants.These benefits seem appealing, considering the world population has topped 7.5 billion and adequate food supplies for developing countries is a concern. Nevertheless some find the concept of interfering with the natural agricultural system unnecessary and disconcerting. Dr Don Huber a retired scientist Purdue University explains “There’s tremendous potential there. It’s a matter of using that …show more content…
They do have potential to greatly help the agriculture industry, while at the same time they raise many safety as well environmental concerns. These issues need to be looked at by everyone as we all are affected by them. Each of us could spend many hours reading detailed reports and come to different conclusions on the value of genetically engineered foods as well as the ethics. The decisions on GMO 's and foods will ultimately be made by consumers and the more reliable and impartial information that is available to them the