Modified Food Essay

The fact of the matter remains, there is potential for an amazing breakthrough in modifying the genetic components of our foods. If such a breakthrough were to come about, it could lead to a promising future of provisions for people who may not currently receive the benefits of a direct agricultural provider. There are current efforts to achieve insect, herbicide, and disease resistant crops of which could grow faster and in less fertile regions. In addition, these crop varieties could also pack in extra nutrients, take longer to ripen (extending their shelf life), and even contain essential vaccines for specific regions of the Earth. These predicted ‘super-crops’ could potentially put a large dent in the world issues of starvation, malnutrition, and disease. Obviously the future prospects of genetically modified foods are very exciting, and should continue to be explored. In my opinion, the money spent now researching and applying genetic theory could bring these possibilities to fruition and ultimately make a much larger impact then would allocating that money elsewhere. All things considered, there will always be the unknown and uncertain; in this case that remains the extension of genetically modified food use over time. Lab rat testing has warranted varying results of cancer and sickness on a minuscule level. Looking at this, we can surmise that the possibility of repercussions stemming from a continual and consistent diet of food that has been genetically tinkered with remains small. With this in mind, I would venture to guess that if we continued with the current implementation of genetically modified food into society, as well as the continual research into their future possibilities, it will end up benefiting us far beyond the influence of these negative implications. I agree that GE foods are not a direct solution to world hunger, malnutrition, and starvation; and I agree that alternative solutions should continue to be explored. Therefore, I entirely support the further investigation of genetically modified foods with the hope that it will not only lighten these societal burdens but potentially put a large dent in them. Anything will help at this point, considering how well the current system of resource distribution is working. All in all, with the prospects of what could be a fruitful future coming from genetically engineering and modifying our food, I’m all for it. BMJ 1999;318:581-584 ( 27 February ), Clinical review, Science, medicine, and the future, Genetically modified foods, Editorial by Dixon: (http://www. bmj. com/cgi/content/full/318/7183/581). Wikipedia! (of course†¦): (http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food) GM Food, Controversies Surrounding the Risks and Benefits of Genetically Modified Food: (http://scope. educ. washington. edu/gmfood/).