1 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Many people have mixed feelings regarding genetically modified (GM) foods. In 2003, the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology found that 55% of Americans thought of GM food as "bad". In 2005, they found that Americans' knowledge of GM foods was generally low however the majority did not want the technology banned. Currently, 18% of our land mass is used for agriculture. Of that, 70,000 km2 are lost annually to urban sprawl and other non-agricultural uses. By 2040 the world's population is estimated to reach 9 Billion. With the amount of farmland shrinking and the population rising, the question of how to feed more people with less land has become imperative. One way to combat this problem is with GM food. GM crops allow reduced cost, reduced pesticide use, and higher yields. However, there are many concerns regarding the safety, patent legality, biodiversity, nutritional content, and use of such modified crops.

When considering the cost of growing a crop, one must examine seed cost, cultivar susceptibility, the pesticide needed, yield and how much labor will be required for a successful season. Although the cost of GM seed is higher than for conventional seed, savings are seen in the other areas. Farmers use GM crops because many are less susceptible to disease and insects. This means less pesticide is needed, less money is spent and more yield is harvested. For Bt cotton which is insect resistant, 50% less pesticide is needed. Conventional cotton has required $5 Billion annually and 20% of the global insecticide, yet it produces less cotton than the GM cotton produces with 50% less insecticide. In 2001, Bt cotton saved 10,500 Metric Tons of active insecticide ingredient from use. This means 10,500 Metric Tons of pesticide runoff was prevented from contaminating the aquifer and local water sources. Furthermore, since farmers in China and South Africa apply insecticides by hand, the use of Bt cotton allows significantly less exposure. As for Bt cotton yield, it has increased by 5-10% in China, 10% in the U.S. and Mexico and 25% in South Africa. In China, the seed cotton produced on 1.5 Million hectares has increased by 514,000 Metric Tons. In 2001, Bt cotton increased the economic gain of the U.S. by $50/hectare and $100 Million nationally. China gained $500 Million/hectare and $750 Million nationally. Just as important is the time and labor Bt cotton saves. In South Africa, 50% of the farmers are women. Bt cotton allows them

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Genetic engineering of food?
We want to hear your view. Write now!