Genetically Modified Agriculture

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although supporters of genetically modified agriculture claim that it increases crop yield, increases the nutritional content in the food and decreases the use of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers; there are several concerns about the negative effects of this practice, especially for the Third World. The author points out that a major problem of genetically modified crops being used in the Third World is its cost for the seeds, which means that small farmers need to indenture to big firms, and, once genetically modified framing is used, soil nutrients are exhausted drastically and it becomes difficult to return to traditional farming with limited fertilizing. The paper urges that, while agricultural biotechnology is still young, the benefits and the risks of genetically modified agriculture should be considered more thoroughly especially its effect on the Third World even though this area suffers from lack of highly nutritional food.

From the Paper:

"Some people, especially children, are highly allergic to certain types of foods like peanuts. According to Wesley Burks, the Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, allergic reactions to genetically modified food are usually limited to the skin and respiratory tract. Symptoms include urticaria, angioedema, pharyngeal edema, wheezing, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Genetically modified foods may accidentally introduce a new allergen because modern technology makes genes possibly be introduced to totally dissimilar species, for example a cow gene can be put into a plant. Dr. Martha R. Herbert, a pediatric neurologist said that "with genetic engineering, familiar foods could become metabolically dangerous or even toxic." It is true that if the crop itself is not toxic or dangerous, it could still upset the complex biochemical networks and create new bioactive compounds or change the concentrations of those normally present."

More papers on Genetically Modified Agriculture:

• Term Paper # 89119 : "Genetically Modified Foods"
• Analytical Essay # 5041 : "Genetically Modified Foods"
• Essay # 50124 : "Monsanto and Genetically Modified Organisms"

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