Grant Robbins

Negative Case

Quote: "Biotechnology and GM crops are taking us down a dangerous road, creating the classic

conditions for hunger, poverty and even famine. Ownership and control concentrated in too few hands

and a food supply based on too few varieties of crops planted widely are the worst option for food

security." It is because I agree with Christian Aid, the writer of “Biotechnology and GMOs”, in the

position that GMOs are a negative influence on humans and the environment, that I feel compelled to

negate the resolution.

Resolved: The benefits of genetically modified food outweigh the risks.

Value Premise and Criterion: This resolution provides an obvious value premise of health and a

criterion of unknown. Throughout the years, scientists and philosophers have been trying to discover

the unknown such as elements, gravity, or even predicting super bowls. One thing these people have

never been able to discover is the plethora of negative effects of GMOs. However, it is certain that

GMOs do negatively affect your health in a major way.

Contention 1: Studies show that GMOs increase the risk of allergic reactions. When scientists modify the

food, the gene that they enter could be an allergen.

For example, last year, a parent bought a GM food for her child who had a peanut allergy. The food

that she bought was GM with a gene that contained similarities to peanuts. Her child had a major

allergic reaction and was taken to the hospital.

Scientists don’t have a way to 100% way to identify possible allergens, so people with an allergy face a

serious risk with GMOs. The Unknown in the modified gene is to much of a liability to risk eating the GM

food for its benefits.

Contention 2: Some scientists believe that the digestion of GM foods can increase the chance of

someone getting fatal diseases including asthma and cancer. Studies show that people who eat GMO

foods are 20% more likely to obtain some form of cancer or asthma.

Last year, farmers were facing huge problems from planting there GMO foods. They were obtaining

asthma at horrendous rates by consuming the amount GMOs that they did.

In finalization, GMO foods cause serious health issues and should be avoided at all costs.

Conclusion: I reinstate that I negate the resolution through my contentions that support my value

premise and criterion. The risk of GMOs definitely overcome the benefits.

RESEARCH LOG:

http://farmandranchfreedom.org/gmo-multiple-chronic-disease/ - info on diseases

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324576.php - info on allergens and overall risks

Defined Counter Terms:

Risk- anything that harms something

Unknown- anything undetermined

Health- state of one's body