Everyone Needs To Read This:
GMO Danger
by Patric "The Real Chosen One" Arnold
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been developed to increase food production at a lower cost with enhanced taste and nutrition in response to a growing population and world hunger. The biotechnology behind them has developed and been implemented without regulatory structure resulting in global controversy. GMOs threaten food security and have the potential to mar the safety of the environment and human health.
GMOs are an undemocratic food source controlled by the private sector and subject to economic and political volatility. Corporations and wealthy nations have received the most benefit from GMO development. Corporations develop them by transferring select genes from one organism to another (Whitman, 2000). The genetic engineering methods are the intellectual property rights of the corporations. Corporations are profit pursuing entities selling their products to those who can and will pay for them. Other scientists do not have access to these methodologies and cannot extend the technology to solve problems that may be unique to their geographic area or for a concern that may not interest a corporation (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2001). Wealthy developed countries and successful farmers pay for the seeds each growing season. Less developed countries and disadvantaged farmers do not have means to continue to purchase seeds. In the places where people are most at risk of starvation, GMOs are unaffordable (United Nations, 2012). GMOs have the power to reign down terror by corporatizing the selection of who does or does not live in chronic hunger.
Despite the assurances of government agencies and corporations, environmental and health risks of GMOs have not been adequately analyzed because of the rapid development of GMOs by companies creating the potential for a peril of unintended consequences. One potential hazard is the development of a seed with genes from bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), an insecticide. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has asserted that while results from research of Bt crops reveal a lack of any considerable consequences in the short-term, long-term effects need study. The EPA acknowledges new genetic methods will need to be invented before the long-term population tendencies can be measured (U.S. EPA, 2006). In this case, the variations may make it difficult to test the safety of GMOs. Ecosystems may also be endangered by the insertion of an insecticide gene into a plant that may bring about the creation of a “superbug” or “superweed” resistant to chemicals presently controlling them (Gertberg, 2009). It is also difficult to design a Bt toxin that will kill only a certain insect and not harm desirable insects (Whitman, 2000). Another concern about GMOs is gene flow can occur through cross-pollination transferring heritable characteristics from one crop variety to another (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2001). This would lessen the biodiversity in these crops. There are no human studies of GMOs. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is charged with the safety of genetically altered foods to humans. It decided to leave these concerns to the industry producing these foods (Krimsky & Murphy, 2003). Biotechnology foods are regulated under the laws that govern traditional foods (Pew Trust, 2001). Risk assessments are lacking to conclude foods pose no additional risk after being genetically altered. There are reasons for concern about this lack of assessment. When a gene is introduced and placed into another plant, the “genetic modification is not precise and it is precisely that imprecision which can result in unintended and unanticipated results,” according to Stewart A. Newman, professor of cell biology and anatomy at New York Medical College (Gertsberg, 2009). Debate has raged in the United Nations about GMOs. Brazil has banned GMOs (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2001) and governments in Southern Africa turned down shipments of GMO food because they felt the foods were harmful even though it may mean some of their citizens will starve. They said they did not wish to be “guinea pigs” testing effects of food that is genetically altered (Manda, 2003). Doubt remains about the safety of GMOs in the environment and its effect on human health.
Decisions about development and safety of GMOs should not be left to corporations who own property rights and/or powerful governments. The ethical and safety considerations are considerable involving the entire planet and its inhabitants. International guidelines should be established through the United Nations mandating compliance. An agreement reached with participation by corporations, scientists, government officials, farmers, and United Nations representatives can establish risks assessments and regulations guiding development and use of GMOs to alleviate world hunger.
References
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2001). Genetically modified organisms,consumers, food safety and the environment. Retrieved January 16, 2012, from http://www.fao.org/ ethics/ser_en.htm
Gertsberg, D.(2009, October 10). EPA's flawed regulation of GMOs examined [journal article].Retrieved January 16, 2012, from http://gmo-journal.com/index.php/2009/10/20/epas-flawed-regulation-of-gmos-examined/
Krimsky, S., Murphy, N. K.(2003, January 16). Biotechnology at the dinner table: FDA's oversight of transgenic food [Journal article]. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://www.tufts.edu/~skrimsky/PDF/Annals_aapss.PDF
Manda, O. L. (2003, February). Controversy rages over GM food aid. Retrieved January 16, 2012, from United Nations website: http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/genifo/afred/vol16no4/164food2.htm
PEW Trusts. (2001, September 7). Guide to U.S. regulation of genetically modified food and agricultural biotechnology products. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Food_and_Biotechnology/hhs_biotech_0901.pdf
United Nations. (2012, January 12). Current intellectual property rights, especially those for GMO seeds, threaten poor farmers, good security and the right to food. Retrieved January 18, 2012, from http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/09/global/united_nations.htm
United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2006, December 26). Ecological risk of genetically modified crops. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from http://www,epa.gov/eerd/10110.htm
Whitman, D. B. (2000, April). Genetically modified foods: harmful or helpful? [Guide]. Retrieved January 17, 2012, from Chemical Safety Awareness website: http://csa.com/discoveryguides/discoveryguides-main-php
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