Should GM Crops-foods Be Banned -4 Final

Student number / Name: 000903854 / S. Dogan Can Togrul

According to World Health Organisation (WHO) when GM crops were first legalized at

1996, 600 million people was living on the brink of starvation. Nowadays, more than a billion

people live below the starvation line. However, genetically modified crops were first

commercialized 20 years ago. GM companies and supporters had two main arguments about

why human being would need GM crops: Humans will be faced with increasing level of

hunger and GM crops will be solve the overuse of fertilizer. Scientific data has shown that,

GM crops haven’t solved the world hunger crisis and GM’s should not be released into the

environment until scientifically proved that GM crops has got any harmless impact of human

health and the environment. This essay, will show what genetically modified crops are

produced and historical development of GM. In the second half, the views and expectations

about GM crops will be explored from different perspectives. Towards the end, the essay will

explore the benefits and risks of GM crops.

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Genetically modified crops are obtained by adding new genes which may give new traits

to plants from unrelated organisms in laboratories by genetic engineers. Rissler and Mellon

(1996) explained that, novel genes are manipulated for give new traits which are colour,

height, tolerance to herbicide or pesticide to plant. Nofouzi (2013) explains, there are 2

methods for create the genetically modified crops. One of them is add genes to crops which

plants haven’t got before for add new traits to the transgene. The other method is activate the

genes which crop has it before the manipulation.

According to Rose, humans have been working on genetically modified farm since

farming began a thousand years ago: ‘Wheat was developed by cross-breeding different

strains of grass. Traditional methods such as this take many plant generations’ (2013: 2).

However, genetic engineering was started in today’s context by U.S. government decree

which has approved applications to field test transgene plants with many crops at 1987.

Gilbert (2013) shows that just after 3 years, American’s growers had adopted to genetically

modified cotton which had modified for tolerance the herbicide. Also, Yılmaz (2014) shows

that, there was 1.7 million hectare field was implanted with GM crops at 1996. After this date,

genetically modified crop field length has dramatically increased and it has reached 175.2

million hectare at 2013.

Although, nowadays genetically modified crops and foods are spearheading topic for

public opinion, it has been discussing mainly by scientists, governments and especially anti-

GM associations since 1996 when GM crops were first legalised. According to Gilbert, there

is 2 sides who argue about GM crops: ‘The 2 sides speak different languages and have

different opinions on what evidence and issues matter’ (2013:24). All parties has different

views for instance, although there are many scientist who don’t support the GM crops’

commercialization with their claims about GM crops’ damage of human health and harm to

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environment. Certain scientists like Prof. Gilles-Eric Seralini supports GM crops usage.

According to Rose, Seralini claims that there are lots of myth about GM crops’ harm, one of

the myth is GM foods may be harmful to humans: ‘It is estimated humans have so far eaten

more than 3 trillion meals containing GM products such as soya and maize. There has yet to

be one case of any ill-effect’ (2013:4)

Countries were categorized with development levels in certain literature. However, we

can’t categorize countries in terms of level of development for this subject. For instance, USA

which is developed country in literature, the biggest producer of GM crops also the biggest

supporter of genetic engineering. On the other hand, there are many countries which are

developed countries in literature who don’t access to GM crops production and consuming.

Whitty (2013) highlights, such as the UK and many others, argue that GM crops may have

benefits, but also have risks. Their opinion is genetically modified crops and foods shouldn’t

be released until humans were guaranteed by scientists that GM’s haven’t got any harmful

effect to human health and environment.

According to Toke, the first trend of opposition to genetic engineering started in 1983

with argues of Jeremy Rifkins who the founder and supporter of the anti-GM campaigning.

Rifkin’s impulse were early reactions to genetic engineering, but also these were safety

human health and environment. Toke mentioned in interview with Greenpeace’s senior EU

lobbyist: ‘It should be clear that our strong opposition is to the GMOs in agriculture. We don’t

oppose biotechnology… when there is no release into the environment by genetically

engineered organisms’ (2004: 15). Another example, might quite good explain why green

organizations oppose to GMOs as an economical aspect. Toke stresses anti-GM organizations

view about economic influence: ‘In general GM crops will increase commercial control over

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the food chain by few very large companies’ (2004: 15). Farmers will not retain the right to

resow seed or breed from animals carrying a protected gene without permission.

Growers and agricultural scientists have been facing with overmuch problems which are

water contamination, air pollution, excessive usage of fertilizer, inadequacy fields and many

for farming. Genetic engineers and agricultural scientists argue that, problems of agriculture

can be solved by GM crops. Zhand et al. (2013) gives Chinese scientist and farmers as an

example of agricultural problems solution. Chinese growers and scientist have been working

together, for increase their farming quality and productivity. Growers have increased yields at

around 6% and reduced to usage of insect powder at around 80% by GM crops. Genetically

engineered crops also allows to add multiple traits into a plant. For instance, cassava plat is

main crop for millions of people in Africa. The plant is affected from 2 viral disease which

are brown streak and cassava mosaic diseases. These diseases are cause of plants stunt growth

and rot roots respectively. According Whitty: ‘GM approaches are investigated by Uganda’s

and Kenya’s researchers and argue is genetically modified cassava may survive only that

way’ (2013:32).

Although GM crops may have benefits, scientist, governments and especially the public

have suspicions and concerned the impact of GM crops as economically, environmentally and

regards to humans health. Yılmaz (2014) shows that multinational big biochemical companies

take world seed market in hand with more than 50%. Therewithal, there are 4 main companies

(Monsanto, Du Pont/Pioneer, Sygenta ve Dow/Mycogen) who takes world GM seed market in

hand with more than 90%. Thereby, it means increase of seed prices are become inevitable in

not too distant future and undoubtedly agriculture will be effected economically. There is one

more, big disadvantage for ethical perception and agricultural economic which is effected

small and medium scale growers. Seeds are common heritage of humanity, but GM seeds are

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assets of companies. Seeds patent cannot be obtained by companies, but companies can obtain

GM seeds patent. Thereby, companies may obligate growers and governments to buy seeds

every year with contracts. Because, even in these days biochemical companies do not allow

farmers to reproduce seeds from GM crops which were purchased by growers.

In conclusion, this essay has shown by look the question with different perspectives why

genetically modified crops should be banned. After that, views and expectations from

scientists, governments and anti-GM organizations about GM crops have been given by essay.

At the end, the essay has explained with examples what are the benefits and risks of GM

crops. Obviously clear that, in not too distant future, there will be certainly many problems in

the world. One of the problem will be the world hunger crisis and science will produce the

answer. Humans haven’t known yet what answer will be… But, they should perfectly sure

that, there will be scientist who will find the answer.

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REFERENCES

Gilbert, N. (2013) A Hard Look at GM Crops. Nature: The International Weekly Journal of Science, 497(7447), pp. 24-26.

Nofouzi, F. (2015, August 15). Guncel Gastroenteroloji. Retrieved from Guncel Gastroenteroloji: http://guncel.tgv.org.tr/journal/47/pdf/100137.pdf

Rissler, J. and Mellon, M. (1996) The Ecological Risks of Engineered Crops. Massachusetts: The MIT Press.

Rose, D. (2015) The Great GM Food Hysteria. The Mail on Sunday, 6 July, pp.1-7.

Toke, D. (2004) The Politics of GM Food. First ed. New York: Routledge. pp. 7-19

Whitty, C.J.M. (2013) Africa and Asia Need a Rational Debate on GM Crops. Nature: The International Weekly Journal of Science, 497(7447), pp. 31-32

Yilmaz, F. (2015, August 14). Kalkinma Bakanligi. Retrieved from Kalkinma Bakanligi: http://tarim.kalkinma.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Bitkisel_Uretimde_Genetigi_Degistirilmis_Organizmalar-_ve_Urunleri_ile_Biyoguvenlik.pdf

Zhand, F. et al. (2013) An Experiment for the World. Nature: The International Weekly

Journal of Science, 497(7447), pp. 34-35

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Should GM Crops-foods Be Banned -4 Final