The GM Food Debate
The use of technology in agriculture has become the order of the day. Genetic engineering, an area of agro-technology is the most controversial way of growing crops. There are both advantages and disadvantages in producing GM foods. Genetic engineering techniques now allow scientists to insert specific genes into a plant or animal. Genetic engineering is therefore extremely rapid. The main objective of producing GM food is to meet the demand of consumers quickly and at the same time produce more to sell. (Reference: Textbook)
The appearance of genetically modified foods in markets has resulted in many public debates, scientific discussion, and media coverage. The main concern over the GM food issue is that genetic modification techniques raises the possibility of human health, environmental, and economic problems, including allergies to certain substances in foods, the spread of pest resistance and wild plants' resistance against herbicides, kill wildlife, and increasing control of agriculture by biotechnology companies and organisations. However, there are still companies that continue with this practice. (Reference: SCOPE Research Group)
There are, of course, organisations that support GM foods, as well as organisations that do not support GM foods. One organisation that is against GM food is the 'Civil Society Organisation". (Reference: Lim Li Lin, Institute of Science in Society) Together with other organisations, they wrote a letter the Government of the United States of America, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, requesting policies about GM to be changes.
The use of technology in agriculture has become the order of the day. Genetic engineering, an area of agro-technology is the most controversial way of growing crops. There are both advantages and disadvantages in producing GM foods. Genetic engineering techniques now allow scientists to insert specific genes into a plant or animal. Genetic engineering is therefore extremely rapid. The main objective of producing GM food is to meet the demand of consumers quickly and at the same time produce more to sell. (Reference: Textbook)
The appearance of genetically modified foods in markets has resulted in many public debates, scientific discussion, and media coverage. The main concern over the GM food issue is that genetic modification techniques raises the possibility of human health, environmental, and economic problems, including allergies to certain substances in foods, the spread of pest resistance and wild plants' resistance against herbicides, kill wildlife, and increasing control of agriculture by biotechnology companies and organisations. However, there are still companies that continue with this practice. (Reference: SCOPE Research Group)
There are, of course, organisations that support GM foods, as well as organisations that do not support GM foods. One organisation that is against GM food is the 'Civil Society Organisation". (Reference: Lim Li Lin, Institute of Science in Society) Together with other organisations, they wrote a letter the Government of the United States of America, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation, requesting policies about GM to be changes.
