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The Pros And Cons Of Gmos In Agriculture

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GMOs in Agriculture
“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional foods processed in the United States, and genetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesotan farms. Plants such as corn and soybeans or even papaya and zuchinni are viable for genetic modification. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,” is, “food in which, at some point during the production …show more content…

This was accomplished by keeping the finest of the past years crop to use as the following years seed. In comparison with today, the technology that is used to create GMOs has vastly improved over the last fifty years (Erdosh 2). What took numerous seasons of careful plant selection and breeding in the past, now only takes a few years with the current automation. To illustrate, alterations to plants are performed when scientists take a piece of DNA from one plant and clip out a specific, unwanted gene. From this point, researchers obtain a gene with the wanted characteristics from another DNA and put it in place of the unwanted gene. This is then used to get the optimal yield from a given crop. For instance, frost is extremely tough on strawberries and can kill them if they are not protected. On the contrary, parsley is resistant to frost due to its inherent antifreeze chemicals. This fortunate connection between the two plants makes them perfect candidates for genetic modification. For example, if a biotechnologist can implant the parsley’s gene capable of producing antifreeze chemicals into the strawberry plant, the farmer may be able to start planting strawberries a few weeks sooner in the spring and will subsequently produce a longer harvest season and an earlier crop (Erdosh …show more content…

Less fuel and labor is required by spraying an entire field rather than burning weeds with propane burners or cultivating, which can produce bigger plants resulting in a larger yield. GMOs also protect the environment as they require the use of less pesticides per acre compared to Non-GMOs due to their pest and weed resistance. Julia M. Diaz and Judith L. Fridovich-Keil in “Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)” reported, “genetically engineered crops dramatically increase per area crop yield and reduce the use of chemical insecticides.” For example, say Plant A has an exceptional resistance to weeds, but poor resistance to insects, and Plant B has fantastic resistance to both. To solve Plant A’s issue, the gene in charge of insect resistance in Plant B would be cut into Plant A. This develops an overall better resistance against pests and weeds in Plant A, resulting in larger growth and increased yield. For instance, RoundUp Ready soybeans are soybeans that have been modified to withstand RoundUp, which is a chemical meant for weeds but can kill a variety of plants. This allows farmers to use RoundUp to spray their entire field and only kill the weeds and not the crop. Furthermore, GMOs can be crop dusted with a specific chemical, which is the aerial application of crop protection products. This is a convenience Non-GMO farmers do not have

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Thus, it helps lower the risk of crop failure and makes crops more resilient to extreme weather (Mandel). This shows that GMOs can make crops healthier

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GMO or Genetically Modified Organism is applied to any food or meat which has been genetically modified through its growth or cultivation. In other words, vast industries are merging DNA from various species in order to increase production and decrease costs. Sure, it turned out just fine for the moneymakers, however this is on the cost of ordinary people who tremble upon the fact to go in the markets and examine and study every label which enters their shopping card. Every fruit, veggie

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From 2000 to 2013, a 71% increase was seen in the adoption of GM corn seeds known as stacked seeds because they contain multiple GE traits. (Cornrjo et al. para 8). These seeds are resistant to pesticides and have the ability to grow in harsh conditions, which is why they have their use has increased. More and more plants are becoming genetically modified and soon all plants may have some trace of genetic modification.

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In the future, it may be equipped with genetically modified plants with mechanisms designed to prevent gene flow. This is important for the co-existence of GM and traditional crops, especially that medical and industrial use of genetically modified plants. Environmental indirect effects of genetically modified crops include changes in agricultural or environmental practices associated with new varieties. Whether the net effect of these changes had to be positive or negative on the environment is still controversial, calling for a more comparative analysis of new technologies and agricultural practices.

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GMOs are used in crops such as wheat, corn, soy, canola, and even cotton. They are also used in certain animals like pigs. One benefit of GMOs is how it helps not only farmers but society worldwide. Using GMO for food allows the crops to be resistant to insects, weeds, and other pests. In doing this, farmers can reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides.

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“In the genetic engineering process, scientists splice a specific gene that exhibits certain traits into a plant to create new artificial characteristics in organisms” (Burgaard; Streker).   The resulting organism is considered GM, or genetically modified. The desired traits currently being practiced through genetic engineering are insect resistance, weed control, and improved nutritional content (Turner). The

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Glyphosate or “Roundup”, as it is most commonly known is one of the most toxic herbicides (i.e. a substance toxic to plants and is used to destroy weeds). Roundup is linked with sterility, hormone disruption, birth defects, and cancer. GMO

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Germplasm improvements from traditional breeding have contributed to modest but steady increases in yield. Marker-assisted breeding has nearly doubled the rate of yield gain when compared to traditional breeding alone” (Monsanto). This is not the only evidence that Monsanto boasts. Since 1996, on average, the volume of herbicide used on corn and soybeans has dropped 2o percent since herbicide tolerant corn has been introduced. There has even been reduction in greenhouse gas emissions associated with GM crops for 2006 is estimated to be equal to removing more than half a million cars from the road.

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Genetically Modified Organism, or commonly known as GMO's, is a crucial issue worldwide. A GMO is a type of organism that had its's genetic material modified or altered in a way using biotechnology that allows it to improve productivity and product quality. GM foods are designed to be resistant to diseases and pesticides. As well as being designed to have a higher nutrient value and higher life expectancy. The amount of GMO’s produced and sold, far exceeds than organic food, only because of the good they will do for the people.

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Although GMOs were put to use in the past, the modern findings of GMOs and transgenic plants have emerged only a few decades ago. In 1980, scientists discovered that certain parts of DNA could be relocated from one organism to another. This discovery later became the backbone of the genetic modification process. “In 1983, the first transgenic plant, a tobacco plant resistant to anti-biotics, was created” (Cramer, 2001).

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The genes are inserted into crops using biotechlogy to control pests, control diseases, and to improve yields. All commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand direct application of herbicides, or to produce an insecticide. Do you know

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Genetically modified organisms or GMO’s for short is an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering. GMO’s were introduced for biological research, medical research, developing more effective pharmaceutical drugs, and agriculture. GMOs were first introduced in the 1970’s by genetically modifying a mouse, then the first modified plant was introduced in 1983. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in agriculture to modify the plant's DNA to produce a new trait that does not occur in the plant naturally, since then genetically modified crops have begun to increase in production by farmers to increase food production. Genetically modified foods are currently still in debate because of the harmful effects it has on the environment, the regulatory process,

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Genetically produced foods can be dated back to the mid-1990s where the FDA approved a series of genetically modified fruits. The practice involved introduction of micro-organism through biotechnology to a plant of the same class to enhance its resistance to pest and drought (225-231). The activity was believed to bring a significant impact on the shortage of food production issues in the current times. According to FDA, the practice would enhance food production to support the growing world population. The base of genetically modified foods was that the crops are made pest resistant as well as increase yields.

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Pesticide resistance occurs when weeds, which reduce crop yield, develop an immunity to agricultural herbicides. This immunity, spurred by the overuse of herbicides as a consequence of engineered crop immunity, has created the so-called, superweed - a weed resistant to commonly used herbicides like glyphosate. As a result, “millions of acres of U.S. farmland are now infested by super weeds” (UCS, 2015), effectively nullifying the benefits of GMO crops and “costing American farmers and estimated one billion dollars annually” (Koba, 2014). Biotechnology companies have proposed a solution to the problem of superweeds which involves designing a new line of herbicide-resistant crops which confer plant resistance for less-used, yet increasingly toxic herbicides like dicamba. This is problematic because it would require the use of increasingly toxic amounts of existing or alternate herbicides, which correlate with increased health risks for humans and wildlife.

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