GMO in Plants

Genetically modified food are foods that have benefited from genetic engineering. Many strands of
corn, soybeans, cotton and similar crops are frequently planted in US fields every year. According
to US Department of Agriculture, GMOs account for 90% or more of most common crops grown by
American farmers.
PROs

 Improve the quality of the food that is grown. GMO foods can be engineered to have a longer
shelf life to limit food waste. It can be used to create stronger colors, eliminate seeds, or
have the crop be more tolerant to severe weather changes. GMO foods have an improved
nutrient content, including calcium and protein.

 Easier for farmers to grow. Crops can be created to have a greater resistance to insects and
have a better tolerance to various herbicides.

 It increases the food yields that we can produce on existing croplands. By 2050, it is
expected that the human population will be 10 billion people which means we’ll need more
food to be produced with our existing resources in order to support this increase and GMOs
give us the potential to do so w/o changing the cost structures of foods.

 GMOs can be shipped to remote areas. The planet currently produces 17% more food than it
needs for current population levels. The amount of time it takes for food to arrive in rural
populations is enough for it to spoil before it is consumed. GMOs improve the lifespan of the
food and its durability, allowing for them to be shipped greater distances with less waste to
those who are in need.

 Herbicide use on GMO crops is lower than other crops. In a study by PG Economics which
looked at pesticide use on GMO cotton from 1996-2011, it found that there had been a 6.1%
decrease in the number of herbicides that had been used compared to how much was
expected.
CONs

 Genetic engineering can trigger allergies from alternative foods. GMOs that contained
proteins from Brazil nuts were found to trigger an allergic reaction in people who are
allergic to them.

 GMOs may contribute to antibiotic resistance. GMOs are often incorporated w/ antibiotic-
resistant genes in order to strengthen the crops that will grow.

 Herbicide resistance happens naturally without the need for genetic engineering. There are
currently 64 different types of weeds w/c have been proven to be resistant to atrazine.
Some farmers in the Southeastern United States can lose up to half of their yield even when
planting GMO crops, to atrazine-resistant weeds.
Subsistence Farming
The type of agriculture, wherein crop growing and livestock rearing is performed, to fulfil the needs
of the farmer and his family. Before industrialization, there are many people who depend on the
subsistence farming to fulfil their needs.
PROs

 Can fulfil the needs of the farmer and his family. The surplus produced is sold to nearby
markets
 To increase productivity, manure is added to the soil which a natural way to fertile the soil.
 Mainly food grains like wheat and rice, fruits and vegetables are grown
 Traditional methods of cultivation are used
 Help mitigate price inflation

CONs
 Performed in a small area only.
 Cannot offer farmers bigger or any income at all.
 Depends on the monsoon and simple methods of irrigation.

Commercial Farming
Otherwise called as agribusiness is a farming method in which the crops are raised, and cattle are
reared with the aim of selling the produce in the market, so as to earn money. The basic feature of
commercial farming is that high doses of modern inputs are used for higher productivity.
PROs

 A large area is required to perform commercial farming. Crops are grown on a large scale in
huge farms.
 Primarily those crops which are in great demand are produced, i.e. the crops which are to
be exported to other countries or which are used as raw material in industries. Further, the
extent of commercialization of farming differs from region to region.
CONs

 Machines are used for the purpose of cultivating the land, in commercial farming that
causes soil erosion
 The yield of crops can be increased by high doses of modern inputs, i.e. high yielding variety
seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides.
 Mainly cash crops and cereals are grown.
 More expensive

Public Market/Wet Market

A market wherein the products sold are fresh and in lower prices.
PROs

 Products are fresh

 Cheaper/ Low cost
 Products can be bought piece by piece
CONs

 Wet markets are, yes, wet and often dirty not well ventilated
 Inconvenient
 Weight and measure system is not reliable due to vendors adjusting their scales to fool
consumers
 Vegetables and fruits are fresh although some sneaky vendors would mix in nearly spoiled
items.
 Vendors selling vegetables normally pack their days-old stock in plastic bags
 Exposed meat could also become discolored.
 Chicken other vegetables, rice is sometimes sold at a price higher because they do not get
these in bulk like the bigger operators.

Hypermarket
– are clean, one-stop outlets wherein products are fresh, sold in packs.
PROs

 Weight and measure system is deemed more reliable

 Convenient, clean and well-ventilated
 Vegetables and fruits are fresh
 Modified-atmosphere packaging. Those sealed meat packages have had gas flushed into
them to keep the meat red.
CONs

 Expensive
 May not follow the right age of chickens or cattle