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There are hundreds of agricultural issues facing the world today, though for most consumers, the issue of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) hits closest to home.
While desertification and farming issues lie beyond my frame of reference, I buy and consume GMOs every day. I believe that although this biotechnological revolution will advance food production, the dangers outweigh the benefits.

Genetically modified (GM) foods are developed to increase crop yield by manipulating or crossbreeding the genetic structures of plants, thereby improving their ability to fight pesticides and viruses while tolerating herbicides. This technology may also be used to produce totally artificial materials from GM crops, such as plastic and vaccines. For example, GM carrots contain an antigen that can be used to fight Hepatitis B.
However, the human health, environmental, and economic risks associated with GM foods are too great to justify their production.
GM companies are not required to test or list every substance in their foods; it is the nature of these foods to be comprised of many different materials and chemicals, most intersecting with the eight most common food allergens (eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, and wheat). Thus the lives of allergy-sufferers are becoming increasingly endangered as the practice of genetic modification spreads throughout the food industry. Furthermore, the general impact of these new substances on consumers, which is potentially harmful, has yet to be assessed.
In addition, GM crops pose an environmental threat through their potential to spread altered genes to wild populations; devastate species of insects that are not pests of the crop, thereby dramatically altering fragile ecosystems; reduce biodiversity; reduce the practice of crop rotation; and plant foreign chemicals in agricultural areas, which could be dangerous for surrounding wildlife.
Finally, the increasing trend of genetic modification in agriculture will ultimately result in a monopoly of the agricultural industry by biotechnology companies. Local farmers are already suffering due to the competitive standards set by huge GMO producers; these circumstances will have massive economic consequences.
In order to reduce the risks of GMOs, several steps must be taken in the form of stricter regulation. First, it should be mandatory for GM corporations to provide complete information about the substances used in the making of their products for public access. Therefore, companies will protect themselves from "lawsuits", while many allergy risks will be avoided. Also, the use of chemicals among GM crops should be tested thoroughly and more regulated to prevent overuse or toxic environmental implications. It is also important to regulate the production and harvest levels of these companies to prevent them from controlling the industry, while encouraging consumers to purchase "organic" foods whenever possible and support local markets.

Learn more about this author, Allie Lahn.
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