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Are GMOs the Answer? The beginning of the 21st century started with a lot of serious unresolved problems for the international community, among which are the ones that put humanity to the brink of survival. Such problems include widespread hunger and malnutrition, which affect both developing and developed countries in varying degrees. The global food problem is the oldest problem of mankind. Hunger as an extreme manifestation of this huge social disaster attacked people in the ancient times, the Middle Ages and in periods of modern history. The main explanation of hunger is that the population is growing faster than the possibilities to provide people with necessary products can be found. Hunger is the most acute in the regions with high fertility rate. With population growth average per capita cultivated area reduces. Today the world population is more than six billion people and it is going to double next 50 years, so food supply must be increased (Kirakisyan, Kaufman, 2009, p. 339). Physiological definition of hunger is not only in insufficient consumption of basic food products or so-called food insecurity (National Academies Press, 2005, p. 5). It also includes the fact of low calories of consumed products, vitamin and element deficiency, the amounts of which are not enough to sustain life and health of a consumer. Hunger, chronic malnutrition and unbalanced diet are the reasons of many deaths and diseases. There is a way to grow more products and to increase their nutritional qualities, which is much talked about recently. We are talking about the use of genetically modified organisms. Is the use of them able to eradicate global hunger? Will the consequences of the use of GMOs be even direr? Heated discussions about the dangers and benefits of using genetically modified organisms are not kept for one year. Both supporters and opponents of genetic engineering reinforce their arguments with scientific researches. Thus, it cannot be confidently stated

whether transgenic foods are harmful or not. Nevertheless, the most appropriate choice is to follow the golden mean, the most balanced and objective position, which takes into consideration both advantages and disadvantages of GMO. The positive side of the argument connected with the use of GMO is supported with the following advantages: insect pest resistance. Various parasites and harmful insects are able to destroy

large amounts of harvests. This leads to financial loss for farmers and famine for people in developing countries. To stand against pests, farmers use thousands of tons of chemical pesticides every year. Consumers are trying to avoid buying poisoned foods because of potential health hazards. GMO plants can withstand pests and do not need chemicals to be used; herbicide tolerance. Usually it is hard to remove weeds with the help of

machines, so farmers use chemical sprays. GMO products usually require only one application of herbicide, which helps to save costs and prevent poisoning of goods; disease resistance. GMO plants are not afraid of fungi, viruses and bacteria,

which cause plant diseases; frost resistance, drought and salinity tolerance. Weather changes can lead to

low temperatures in top soils and lack of rainfalls, but they are not dangerous for GM plants; human nutrition. For example, a lot of countries in Africa and Asia grow rice.

However, rise does not consist of enough amounts of necessary nutrients. This leads to malnutrition. Genetically modified rice contains more vitamins and minerals, which makes it more nutrient; pharmaceuticals. It could be easier to ship and to store medicines and vaccines

in third world countries if there were edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes;

phytoremediation. Some plants are genetically modified to exclude heavy

metals and other pollutants from contaminated soils. This can help to save soils (Kirakisyan, Kaufman, 2009, p. 339). As it can be seen, the use of genetically modified organisms presents a lot of opportunities in increasing the amounts of harvests. Nevertheless, usually consumers are sure that traditional natural foods are safe. Unfortunately, there are the following disadvantages, which do not let the idea of growing GM plants be so great: unpredictable genetic and ecological effects. The effects of genetically

modified plants on humans are not studied enough; new allergens in food. Theoretically, changed natural genes in foods can lead

to unpredictable reactions of human organism. But practically the tests of GM products, presented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations did not find any allergic affects that can be caused by GM foods, which are on the market; more pesticide-resistant insects and herbicide-resistant weeds, the populations

of which will grow because of not using pesticides and herbicides; problems on seed market. Genetically modified plants do not give proper

seeds, which can be used to grow next generations of products. This shows their inability to reproduce naturally. This fact develops suspicions about the violation of the generative functions of humans; lower genetic diversity. Fewer kinds of various natural kinds of products will

be presented on market (Spoolman, Miller, 2011, p.287-288). As it can be seen, the numbers of advantages and disadvantages of using GM are nearly the equal. This field of science has a lot of effects of GM foods to be tested. Generations should pass to study the effects of GM products on people. Today it is fashionable in developed countries to eat natural products with labels No GMO and people

are afraid of eating GM foods. But still, if the problem of hunger is going to develop and there are no other ways to solve this problem, the use of GM foods should be studied more and proper researches should be provided to make the use of GM foods safe.

References Kirakisyan, Ara; Kaufman, Peter B. (2009) Recent Advances in Plant Biotechnology, Springer, 412 pages. National Academies Press (2005) Measuring Food Insecurity And Hunger: Phase 1 Report, National Academies Press, 67 pages. Spoolman, Scott; Miller, G. (2011) Living in the Environment, Cengage Learning, 784 pages.