The genetically modified crops are known as the transgenic crops that are associated with practical and important ethical issues. Before delving the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified crops, it is very important that you have a clear and better understanding when it comes to the factors that might affect a certain individual when they are engage with these.
In the year 2007, the United States of America was considered as one of the major producers of genetically modified crops. Most of the foods in United States contain genetically modified crops and the government of that country does not want that these crops to be labeled genetically modified. In order to deal with this, the government approved that the genetically modified crops can be saleable in the United States. These commodities include corn, potato, canola, squash, soy, rice, tomato, sugar beet, chicory and papaya.
The soy, transgenic corn and papaya are the most often distributed genetically modified crops in the United States. If you love eating corn meal, corn bread, popcorn, tortilla chips, potato chips, French fries, veggie burgers and soymilk, it simply means that you might already consumed the genetically modified food products.
The 3 Pros of Genetically Modified Crops
The following are the benefits associated with genetically modified crops:
1. Pest Resistance
Most of the genetically modified crops contain pest resistance. The Bt varieties is a kind of transgenic cultivars that usually contain foreign gene that has the ability to produce the so-called Bt endotoxin. Bt endotoxin is a kind of natural insecticide that comes from soil bacterium. Since the Bt crops generate insecticide, the genetically modified crops have the potential to lower the usual need of chemical insecticides that are proven harmful to human health and in the environment.
2. Herbicide Tolerance
The genetically modified crops also have herbicide tolerance. The efficient and effective herbicide has the ability to destroy crops. However, the crops like corn and soy cotton can be tolerant to herbicide glyphosate. The glyphosate is a kind of active ingredient that is efficient in small doses and non-hazardous to humans.
3. Nutritious
The genetically modified crops can be valuable to humans since it is more nutritious and it has the potential to boost the nourishment of public & increase the earnings of farmers. One example of genetically modified crops is the golden rice which is the kind of transgenic cultivar rice that contains beta carotene which is very useful to your health.
The 3 Cons of Genetically Modified Crops
However, genetically modified crops can trigger issues such as:
1. Distribute Foreign Genes
Most of the genetically modified crops have the ability to distribute the foreign genes in the environment in a form of interbreeding the non-genetically modified plants. The genetically modified crops can generate pesticides that will lead to tougher pests. The pesticides that these crops generate will destroy the susceptible pests.
2. Occurrence of Allergic Issues
The pesticides that the genetically modified crops generate can disrupt the natural conservation relationships. It will also influence the survival pace of the predators and it can cause allergic issues to humans.
3. Expensive
Finally, the genetically modified crops are more expensive as compared to non-genetically modified ones. In order to deal with this scenario, some of the farmers make use of the cotton.
How Do You Feel about Genetically Modified Crops?
The debates about the Genetically Modified Crops are still ongoing. Some are saying that the genetically modified crops are harmful to human health while others conclude that it plays a vital role in the human health. What do you think?
