What are the arguments for and against genetically modified crops? Discuss the scientific, economic, and political issues

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Proponents of GM crops stress continuity with the agricultural past, arguing that there is little reason to expect that today's GM food is any less safe than the selectively bred food of the past. They also argue that conferring pest resistance to crops can decrease use of chemical pesticides. Critics point out that the new techniques differ from traditional breeding techniques because they mix species, create species in the lab, not the field, and deal with novel gene combinations not possible in nature. They worry about allergic reactions in people and the "spread" of inserted genes into the soil and other organisms in the ecosystem. There is also the question of maintaining the genetic diversity and integrity of the many varieties of indigenous crops such as corn. Many of these varieties have been cultivated for centuries by the indigenous farmers of Mexico and many other nations. Corn is wind pollinated, and patented GM corn has been forming transgenic hybrids with a variety of indigenous strains. Unfortunately, there is little to prevent many GM crops from spreading to non-GM crops in adjacent fields. Controversy has arisen as the corporate agribusiness developers of GM crops have been suing farmers for patent infringement because of this unintentional and often unrecognized contamination. Since organic foods cannot contain GM crop genes, the issue of contamination by nearby GM crops is of particular concern to organic farmers. The political debate involves labeling and an individual's right to know what is in the food they consume. Industry has a large financial stake in seeing the continued use of GM foods. Critics argue that we should adopt the precautionary principle with GM foods.