Genetically Modified Foods

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the countries most affected by the debate surrounding genetically modified (GM) foods are Middle Eastern and Third World countries, which stand to reap the benefits of solving widespread starvation, and countries such as the United States, that are robust suppliers of GM foods. The author points out that, like all new technologies, GM pose some risks, both known and unknown; controversies surrounding GM foods and crops commonly focus on human and environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction and environmental conservation. The paper stresses that the likelihood that poorer countries will not be able to produce GM foods is very high because of their lack of money, resources and technology to produce them.

From the Paper:

"Therefore, in addition to conserving water by improving leaf characteristics, plant roots may be genetically modified to improve water uptake from the soil. Some plants such as mesquite trees prosper in extreme deserts because their roots grow to great depths to reach underground water supplies. Water channels--that is, proteins that transport water across cell membranes--are likely key players and thus good targets for genetic modification. Drought problems cause hardship to farmers worldwide. Genetic improvement of drought tolerance of crop plants through traditional breeding or gene engineering has shown encouraging signs that plants can be genetically modified to better cope with drought."

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