G.C.U.

P
CBM 321 (550)

Case Study 2-Food for Thought in the Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms

Case questions:
1. What are the concerns highlighted in the case study over GM food?
The case study focused on the never-ending debate over genetically modified
food production. GM foods become available in the mid-1990s. Many countries
adopted this method because of the numerous advantages it provides, not only to the
economy but also to the consumers' health. GM foods contain at least one element
coming from a plant whose genetic makeup has been altered. It gives plants new,
desirable traits like increased insect resistance, increase fruit production, and such.
Consumers in Europe, on the other hand, are cautious and hold “soft” opinions on the
health implications of GM foods. They are unsure whether such foods are beneficial
or harmful to one’s health. According to a European market research group, 44% of
people believe that GM foods are less safe than regular foods, which is why the EU
has imposed a ban on GM imports. They also believe that genetically modified foods
have long-term effects on health. Despite the United States’ opposition, the EU is
determined to requiring the labeling and traceability of genetically modified goods.
Another issue came up during the UK’s GM food experiments. They discovered that
GM foods were harmful to birds, insects, and plants, raising worries about
biodiversity. Moreover, GM emergency assistance commodities from the United
States have been rejected in Africa because of concerns that they will harm their
agricultural systems and ecosystems. Therefore, opponents of GM products claim
that the potential risk of farming and eating altered crops to human and animal health,
as well as the environment, has not been thoroughly examined.
2. In your view, how would it be possible to derive the benefits offered by GM
crops without risk to health and biodiversity?
In my perspective, GM products like other regular products have advantages and
disadvantages. GM foods may be less safe because they haven’t been adequately
tested. Although academics aren’t quite certain about this new process of food
production, we can’t deny the fact that GM foods have benefited other developing
countries economically. They use this regularly to assist the agriculture industry,
particularly farmers, in lowering production costs, preventing crop loss, and, most
significantly, profiting from cultivation. GMOs add a new characteristic to a product
while also being less expensive, resulting in increased yields, direct farm income, and
other benefits. Actually, we have the option of not eating genetically modified foods if
we so desire. However, nowadays, the majority of our food is genetically engineered,
and we’ve eaten them unknowingly.