Food: often a predominant concern, and an indubitable necessity. While an eclectic collection of nations are secure in their ability to provide food for their citizens, 345 million in 79 countries struggle to maintain a steady supply of sustenance for their people. Zimbabwe, located in southern Africa, is one of these nations, with 3.8 million people facing food insecurity. Zimbabwe has banned any and all kinds of GMOs (genetically modified organisms), citing them as a “health hazard”. However, confronted with meager harvests and inflated food prices, their concession to permit GM corn in the face of famine has yet to produce a visibly notable impact. Similarly, other developing nations are facing food crises, and in the brewing age of global warming, food security is a worldwide concern.
With sharply escalating population growth, food shortages faced by developing nations, and the impending peril of global warming, it is imperative to find a sustainable source of food that addresses all concerns, and GMOs are a potential solution. Genetically modified crops can be engineered to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gasses, be pest-resistant, and be more durable against environmental challenges such as harsh weather. Consequently, GMOs can increase crop yield and accomplish the same results as pesticides—though, without the chemically harmful drawbacks, and abate the symptoms of climate change. Within Europe, it is estimated that a wider adoption of GMOs could result in a 7.5 percent decrease of Europe’s total agricultural GHG emissions.
However, despite the extraordinary potential that GMOs hold, they are often met with a vehemently negative reception; 86 nations, including multiple European nations, have either banned or tightly restricted them. Restrictions and bans on GMOs imposed by governments, often influenced by the unfounded blind opposition of the public, may lead to irreversible starvation and damage to the earth; rather, diligent and smart regulation of GMOs can aid in securing a sustainable state of food security.
For centuries, people have carefully altered crops through selective breeding or cross-breeding to produce the most desirable characteristics. Seeds from the most fruitful apple trees would be planted, and kernels from the crops most resistant to pests would be selected for the next harvest. However, as new technology developed and groundbreaking discoveries regarding DNA were made, biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen were able to produce the first successful GMO in 1973. Though this first success was simply a bacterium designed to resist an antibiotic, scientists would soon discover how to replicate the process with bigger organisms.
GMOs are revolutionary genetic marvels, a burgeoning frontier of food technology opposed by many; its innovative potential is left unrealized as pushback emanating from misconceptions and fear stifle it. They are organisms whose genetic codes have been altered, usually by inputting a portion of another organism’s DNA to provide the GMO with a certain characteristic or ability that the bacteria holds; for instance, resistance against a virus. When considering a successful GMO, it would be inaccurate to claim that the product had been “contaminated” or made inedible by malignant bacteria or virus, as is a common misconception.
Fears and Misconceptions
The predominant reason for people’s fear of GMOs stems from the belief that they are unhealthy or unnatural. A survey among American adults found that about one-third believed GMOs to be safe for consumption, while more than half viewed them to be “unsafe.” Myths depicting GMOs as abnormal substances that may cause cancer, trigger allergic reactions, or threaten biodiversity—which have been disproven—have also contributed to the negative media portrayal of GMOs. Before being released to the public, all GMO products undergo rigorous testing to ensure that they are edible. Furthermore, despite the numerous studies from reputable institutions such as AMA, FDA, and EFSA that have refuted the hostile allegations regarding GMOs, several misconceptions continue to plague the public.
Due to these apprehensions, use of GMOs has often been minimalized. Labels denoting products as “GMO free” or “non-GMO” imply that a lack of such is positive, thereby subtly stigmatizing genetically modified foods. However, this aversion to GMOs is misguided, as a surprising 80 percent of processed foods in the United States contain GMOs; in fact, Cheerios, the most popular cereal in America, is made with genetically modified corn.
Regulation and Revolutionary
As genetic engineering is a tenuous realm that has yet to be completely investigated, when being synthesized, GMO products must be thoroughly tested before being approved. Recognizing the potential danger of hazardous GMOs, the FDA enforces food safety standards that all foods and ingredients, genetically modified or not, must adhere to. Likewise, the EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Agriculture regulate how GMOs interact with the environment to ensure that no harmful effects are overlooked.
Observing the situation from an international perspective, the Convention on Biological Diversity, International Plant Protection Convention, and Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety act as safety procedures that consider the environmental effects of GMOs on ecosystems and pests.
From an increased crop yield to a decrease in pesticide use, a chemically harmful practice that pollutes the environment and degrades the soil, it is evident that GMOs offer a plethora of benefits available for grabs. For developing nations, to which a stable food supply is critical, GMOs may be a panacea. Not only can GMOs contain additional nutritious content—which could be monumental in areas where food is scarce—but the higher yield may provide economic benefits as well. The use of genetically modified crops in countries such as the United States, Argentina, China, and Mexico demonstrates their efficacy and innocuousness.
Unfortunately, due to regulatory constraints and fierce opposition, GMO use and export have been largely limited. As a matter of fact, the ban of GMOs in some African nations was speculated to have been influenced by the European Union’s own stance, a concession made to sustain good relations. While this ban may be negligible and have minimal effects in prosperous European nations, this may be detrimental to Africa and other countries that struggle to ensure food security.
Furthermore, in the coming age of global warming, GMOs may act as a crucial ally. Resistant to the increasingly hostile climate and maximizing land to its fullest extent, genetically modified organisms can mitigate the emission of greenhouse gasses as well as supplement the production of biofuel, an alternative and renewable source of energy.
Though detractors of GMOs may raise justified concerns, it can be argued that certain worries lack validity. However, the capacity to improve agricultural sustainability and address impending climate challenges underscores their value. As it is clear that they will be invaluable for stabilizing developing nations and countering the adverse effects of global warming, rendering a ban would be extremely ill-advised. Pursuing stringent regulatory measures that guarantee the safety of all GMO products would serve as a more sensible route.
Sources:
Funk, Carly, and Lee Rainie. “Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) and Views on Food Safety.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 1 July 2015, www.pewresearch.org/science/2015/07/01/chapter-6-public-opinion-about-food/.
Giddings, L. Val, et al. “Suppressing Growth: How GMO Opposition Hurts Developing Nations.” Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, 8 Feb. 2016, itif.org/publications/2016/02/08/suppressing-growth-how-gmo-opposition-hurts-developing-nations/.
“GMO.” European Food Safety Authority, 25 Jan. 2024, www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/gmo#published-on-this-topic. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
“GMOs — What Eaters Need to Know.” Farm Aid, 17 Mar. 2016, www.farmaid.org/issues/gmos/gmos-what-eaters-need-to-know/.
Herrera-Estrella, Luis, and Ariel Alvarez-Morales. “Genetically Modified Crops: Hope for Developing Countries?” European Molecular Biology Organization Reports, vol. 2, no. 4, Apr. 2001, pp. 256–58, https://doi.org/10.1093/embo-reports/kve075. PubMed Central.
Kovak, Emma, et al. “Genetically Modified Crops Support Climate Change Mitigation.” Trends in Plant Science, vol. 27, no. 7, Feb. 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2022.01.004. 50 Trends in Plant Science.
Manda, Olga. “Controversy Rages over ‘GM’ Food Aid.” Africa Renewal, United Nations Africa Renewal, 2 Sept. 2016, www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/february-2003/controversy-rages-over-gm-food-aid.
Petruzzello, Melissa. “When Were the First GMOs Developed? | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Mar. 2022, www.britannica.com/story/when-were-the-first-gmos-developed.
Purdue University. “What Are GMOs?” Purdue University College of Agriculture, The Trustees of Purdue University, ag.purdue.edu/gmos/what-are-gmos.html.
Sohi, Manreet, et al. “Analyzing Public Sentiment toward GMOs via Social Media between 2019-2021.” GM Crops & Food, vol. 14, no. 1, Mar. 2023, pp. 1–9, https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2023.2190294. PubMed Central.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “GMO Crops, Animal Food, and Beyond.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, vol. 1, no. 1, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5 Mar. 2024, www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/gmo-crops-animal-food-and-beyond.
---. “How GMOs Are Regulated in the United States.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5 Mar. 2024, www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/how-gmos-are-regulated-united-states.
---. “Science and History of GMOs and Other Food Modification Processes.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, vol. 1, no. 1, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3 May 2024, www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/science-and-history-gmos-and-other-food-modification-processes.
World Food Programme. “A Global Food Crisis.” World Food Programme, World Food Programme, 2023, www.wfp.org/global-hunger-crisis.
---. “Zimbabwe | World Food Programme.” World Food Programme, World Food Programme, 21 Mar. 2017, www.wfp.org/countries/zimbabwe.
コメント