Pros and Cons GMO Farming

Pros and Cons of GMO Farming
The commercial growing of GMO crops has been around for a while – with the last two decades having been especially important for GMO advancement. As a matter of fact, it is important to note that from 1996 to 2014, the global area under GM production grew from 1.7 to 182 million HA (James 72). In essence, the crops that account for the largest portion of GM crop production include, but they are not limited to, soybean, canola, maize, and cotton (James 54). However, the all-time favorite GM crop appears to be soybean. It is, however, important to note that GM crop production is not uniform across the world. This is to say that there are some jurisdictions where GM crop production happens to be higher in comparison to others. At present, the largest GM-free zone happens to be Russia. In most cases, policy decisions regarding the production of GM crops originate from political assertions and public perceptions.
To begin with, in support of GMOs, it should be noted that with GMOs, farmers can generate better yields on existing lands with no need to expand the area already under cultivation (Lucht 4260). To a large extent, this could come in handy in an attempt to address the existing food demands of a jurisdiction – and the world at large.
Secondly, GM crops are also easier to cultivate. This is more so the case given that in essence, their tending requires less machinery, chemicals, as well as land. In this case, therefore, it is possible to cultivate crop in regions without irrigation, constant rainfall, or sophisticated mechanized farming implements. This is more so the case given that GMOs have greater resistance to diseases and pests, as well as weeds (Bawa and Anilakumar 1037).
Third, thanks to GMO, it is now possible to extend the natural or shelf life of foodstuff. This effectively means that with the lengthened shelf life it can be possible to transport foodstuffs to far-away regions, i.e. zones where road networks are poor. This often happens when natural disasters strike and we need to reach out to those who have been cut out from the rest of the world. To save lives in such scenarios, we need foodstuffs which cannot go bad after several days before consumption.
It is, however, important to note that there are some cons of GMOs that have been cited over time. One of the most prominent drawbacks relates to human health. For instance, according to Key, Ma, and Drake, in the transgenesis procedure, the utilization of antibiotic resistance as a marker has been criticized on various fronts because of the possibility of enabling the development of antibiotic resistance in pathogens that threaten the health and wellbeing of human beings (294). Secondly, there is also the concern of the affordability of GM seeds to small-scale farmers (Ramaswami, Pray, and Lalitha 181). To remain in business, Agricultural biotechnology corporations, as Ramaswami, Pray, and Lalitha point out, have to ensure adequate return on investment (181). Monopolistic tendencies could also be a risk. This is more so the case given that the very nature of GMO seed production means that only a few corporations have the capacity to delve into the same, i.e. because of astronomical/huge research and development costs.
In the final analysis, it should be noted that by 2050, research indicates that the total global population will be in excess of 10 billion. The land area of planet earth is not likely to increase or expand going forward. This essentially means that human beings are only left with two options. To clear natural land for cultivation or to embrace GMO and hence increase the production potential of the land under cultivation. It is not difficult to see which option is more feasible. To mitigate the drawbacks of GMOs identified above, the relevance of government involvement, formulation of clear policy guidelines, and continued research cannot be overstated.
Works Cited
Bawa, Arya and Anilakumar, Kalkin. Genetically modified foods: Safety, risks and public concerns—a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology 50.6 (2013): 1035–1046.
James, Clive. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2014 - ISAAA Brief No. 49. Ithaca: NY, 2015.
James, Clive. Global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops: 2013 - ISAAA Brief No. 49. Ithaca: NY, 2014.
Key, Suzie, Julian K-C Ma, and Pascal MW Drake. “Genetically modified plants and human health.” Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine 101.2 (2008): 290–298.
Lucht, Johnson M. Public acceptance of plant biotechnology and GM crops. Viruses 7.8 (2015): 4254–4281.
Ramaswami, Bharat, Carl E. Pray, and Natham Lalitha, N. “The spread of illegal transgenic cotton varieties in India: Biosafety regulation, monopoly, and enforcement.” World Development 40.1 (2012): 177–188.