Africa †Genetically modified food Essay

Genetically modified food (GM food) is crop, plants or just food are created by using the latest molecular biology techniques in laboratories to have the desired traits such as resistance to pesticides and many more. For a period of 10 years, between 1995 and 2005, the amount of land cultivated with Genetically Modified Organisms had increased from 4. 2 million acres to 222 million acres. In 2003, the countries that grew 99% of the world’s genetically modified food were the following countries-In the United States of America. South Africa, the only country in Africa which accommodates the production of genetically modified food has the least in the world with only 1% of their food modified. These food may appear to be poisonous to the human health because there is no proof or what so ever that they are safe either to the environment or to human health. If genetically modified food is really dangerous to human health than the United States of America will have a big problem for the next coming years. GENERAL INFORMATION ON GENETICAL MODIFIED FOOD. My research on genetically modified food shows no signs that a thorough investigation has been done on the safety of humans to them. Hagelin, J. , (2000) a PhD physicist said that there has never been a single study on the safety of humans to genetically modified food and thus all implications on these products are just fabricated. Chances are some unknown illnesses are caused by genetically modified food but since there has never been some sort of research towards them, one cannot say whether they are safe or not. Dr.Lemaux, P. , (2000) said that she could not elaborate the safety of genetically modified food because there is no proof or study to secure the health of humans. But looking back in the history of science, many examples lead to the risk of human beings and the environment. Most chances are that genetically modified foods are not safe for humans. We have many diseases that the causes are unknown recently, but because no study has been made on these products I believe that some of the unknown diseases are caused by them. Good and evil are moral choices humans are free to make. As applied to technology, these moral choices present great opportunities and great dangers (Whitman, D. B). Whether you choose to consume genetically modified food or not there are still more advantages and disadvantages to it like people claim that there is at the present moment. Other philosophers like George, S. , (1987) a senior follower at Transnational Institute of Amsterdam believe that genetically modified food is the answer to ending hunger especially in African countries and other parts of Asia. She said that these products are the new strategies of food for the future since we have a high population and non-fertile soil in some parts of the world, genetically modified food can be given special traits and abilities to grow in harsh areas or to adapt to that particular environment and grow. She included that if more countries in Africa could accept genetically modified food, more people will not die of hunger, but it will increase the food production. But since there is only one country in Africa that has allowed genetically modified food which is South Africa, solutions of feeding the rest of Africa are very small, more and more people will still struggle to feed themselves on daily basis leading to death. One of the aspects that George Susan (1987) included about genetically modified food is that she believes without genetically modified food there would be a lot of shortage of food to cater for the whole world. Take for instance China. China has the largest population in the world that it is said if the all jump up at once the world could experience the most enormous earthquake ever experienced on Earth. The government could did not have enough natural resources to be able to feed the whole country so they passed on a new law that every woman should have a maximum of 2 children, then after that she would be sterilised. That was because the population was very high that there was not enough food for everyone and again that is why most of them eat almost anything that can be consumed without harming the body. In Africa the situation is worse that there aren’t enough animals available and most of the people are illiterate and cannot strategise, but the worse factor is political issues. GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AS PANACEA Genetically modified food are resistant to pests so there is no need of a pesticides or poisonous chemicals to be sprayed on them. Since fewer chemicals will be used in the process of growing these plants it is very good for the environment because it won’t be exposed to soil erosion, land pollution and most important eutrophication. Since pests cannot feed on genetically modified foods, no crops will go to waste. Farmers will be able to reach their maximum sales because nothing will go to waste. It also solves hunger problems especially in disadvantaged countries. It has been agreed that there is no enough food for the whole world to feed everybody. With genetically modified food a high yield of crops can be reached and therefore more crops are produced by farmers. Genetically modified food can be grown anywhere in the world, at any time and condition and other genetically modified food can be engineered to contain important vitamins and minerals. (Want to know it 2012). Consecol (2000) included that genetically modified foods increase opportunities for reduced tillage systems, it kills fewer non target organisms. GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD AS POISON They kill non targeted caterpillars and butterflies such as monarchs. It is also said that genetically modified food causes new viruses and risky side effects to human health. (Consecol, 2000). Some of the endangered species are believed to be affected by these products and can cause enormous change in the eco-system. Whitman, D. B., (April 2000) believes that in the next 50 years, governments would have to feed over 12 billion people per day which can be pretty impossible if there is no new solution to the lack of food to feed the whole world. So far the only solution to feed the whole world is genetically modified foods. She also said that genetically modified food has greater dangers than advantages. Genetically modified technology will not eliminate hunger and malnutrition because dysfunctional governments and economies create problems with production, access and distribution of food. Flawed policies, greed and incompetence will always keep some people in ignorance and poverty. (Whitman, D. B. , April 2000) Want to know it (2012) site included that genetically modified food may have an everlasting effect on other organisms in the ecosystem; completely changing other plants and may cause it to be toxic to insects and animals that use plants as their source of food. The spread of insect resistant genes in crops may lead to insects being resistant to the genetic modified plants. This would cause a widespread loss of crops and plants that have the natural immunity leading to a loss of biodiversity. Cancer. Genetically modified foods share certain toxic effects on the liver, pancreas, kidneys and reproductive system that may cause cancer in these organs, according to a Greek study (February 2009) â€Å"Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. † The widespread use of recombinant growth hormone — a genetically modified substance — in the agricultural industry is associated with increases in IGF-1, a growth hormone that, in excess quantities, can lead to cancer. Allergies Allergic reactions to genetically modified foods may arise due to the presence of proteins derived from the plant or animal used to modify the food, according to a U. S.study for genetically modified food Toxicological Sciences (July 2009). Current safety standards involve evaluation of the foreign proteins for allergenic potential, and a database of known allergenic proteins has been compiled, along with computer programs for assessing potential allergenicity of proteins. Additionally, animal and non-animal testing methods are being developed to assist in the process of screening for allergenicity. PEOPLE’S OPINIONS More and more people around the world are starting to reject genetically modified food. At first most people did support them but as time goes by more and more of them decided to go organic. Below is a graph of the statistics on the percentage of how many people agreed that genetically modified food will bring benefits to them and those who didn’t in different years. (Choice. com) CONCLUSION Genetically modified food seems to be solving our current problems with food. With these crops governments are able to feed everyone. Only African countries excluding South Africa still has problems with genetically modified food which is why most of these countries are still struggling to feed their people. Health issues are still questionable towards genetically modified food thus one cannot be sure whether they are safe or not. Personally I think more investigation should be done on the safety of these crops and if there is some sort of effects to the environment and human health, they should be prevented before they cause a greater damage than what we are facing now. BIBLIOGRAPHY George, S. 1987. Food strategies for tomorrow. Ed 6. New York: Beverly Tangri the Hunger Project. Roizman, T. 2010. Disadvantages of genetically modified foods [online]. Available at: www. livingstrong. com/article/34554-d:ofgeneticallymodifiedfood. [Accessed on 19/05/2012]. Snyder, M. 1990. Women: the key to ending hunger. New York: Beverly Tangri the Hunger Project. Want to know it. 2012. Advantages of genetically modified foods [online]. Available at: www. wanttoknowit. com [Accessed on 19/05/2012]. Want to know it. 2012. Disadvantages of genetically modified foods [online]. Available at: www. wanttoknowit. com [Accessed on 19/05/2012]. Genetically modified food: poison or panacea. Choice. 2009. Benefits in future- doubts on biotech today [online]. Available at: www. choice. com . [accessed on 21/05/2012] Genetically modified food poison or panacea. 2011. [online DVD]. United States of America. Directed by Shore, J.