Is genetically modified food the solution to world hunger and starvation?
475300
You cant really guarantee it, but I am sure it can be argued that it could be a solution. This example that I am gonna give is gonna be really vague, but there could be a way to speed up the growth rate of gen modified food and therefore creating more food to eliminate hunger and starvation. It could also be made to resist certain unfavourable conditions that could make plants resist extreme temperatures. I heard of [i think] strawberry being grown in warmer climates becuase they are gen. modified (Their preffered climate is in colder areas). I cant remember much about it tho.. I got this from my bio teacher.... it could be a possibility.
969942
There are many plants that can grow in deserts, but if you are talking about non - desert species, this is more difficult.\n\nDrought resistance (the ability to grow in deserts for example) is described as a complex trait. This means that it is affected by many genes. Genetic modification usually focuses on one area of the genome (in simple terms, one gene), so making a GM plant that's drought resistant would involve not just changing one piece of DNA, but changing heaps of it. For example, to make a wheat plant as drought resistant as a cactus would involve changing so much of its DNA it would be fundamentally changed so much that it would probably be no longer identifiable as wheat!\n\nThere is a huge amount of global research about improving drought resistance in crops, but even if we could do this using genetic engineering, we are a really really long way from making it happen; if it could be done I'm sure you can imagine the consequences - the 23,000 people who die from starvation every day would still be alive, climate change would (arguably) be less of an issue, world economics would be dramatically changed - I'm sure you could think of more; although I guess the question would then have to be, if we could make even more of a global food surplus, would it be any more likely to reach the people who need it?
771108
I totally agree with you. We should build big, indoor, climate-controlled farms. This way we will can grow the food our peoples need no matter what the weather decides to do with itself. These big, indoor farms could even become the prototypes for farms on space stations or colonies on planets that have no weather or extreme weather. Mass starvation is avoidable, at this point in time. I would also like to add, at this point, that genetically modified vegetables are much more acceptable to the American consumer than GM meats. These farms could be at the fore-front of advanced farming techniques. \n\nThe climate changes all by itself. We HAVE contributed to this batch of it, but we are not the only reason it is changing. We cannot, currently, stop or reverse the climate change. The only option open to us is adapt or die.
730386
Crops are genetically engineered to be resistant to particular insect pests. For example, toxin genes (Bt toxin) from a bacterium found in soil (Bacillus thuringiensis) are inserted into the crop DNA so that the plants produce toxins specifically deadly to the larvae of their pest insects. \nSoybeans have been genetically modified to resist herbicides that would normally kill them. \nPlants are genetically modified to ensure longer shelf life or greater resistance to frost. \nFarm animals (such as pigs, cows and chickens) are genetically modified for faster growth rates, leaner muscle-to-fat ratios or superior resistance to disease. \nPlants are modified to yield higher protein or nutrient levels, or produce healthier oils containing ‘functional food’ components such as omega 3 fatty acids. \nGenetically modified cows can produce milk that contains higher levels of bioactive milk proteins or human blood clotting components or a human breast milk component.
1117075
No, as the name suggests, it is genetically modified.  It has been through so much chemicals that its hard to tell if you will get essential nutrients out of it at all.  Maybe some kind of sickness if exposure will be for a long period of time.  Also, many farmers of organic products, like in India, are losing their only source of livelihood to these giant manufacturers of genetically modified foods, hence, it will be a nightmare in the future if all of what we eat are no longer produced naturally, but are made synthetically!!!
265261
I think that to be honest GM foods are far better than standard pesticide ridden foods.  Many pesticides are highly toxic and carcinogens. \nAlso if one considers all genetic modification unnatural then what about the selective breeding of livestock which has gone on for centuries - this is effectivly re-shaping the genome of whole species.  \nIf people would be prepared to spend a small amount more money to obtain high quality locally produced organic food rather than supermarket produce from the other side of the globe grown in economically crippled countries by people who do not get paid well enough to adequatly provide for their families then GM food would not be an issue.
236694
.THIS PLANET IS NOW DRYING OUT.In northern china the 2 major deserts are merging to create a super desert.\n\nthousands of farmers that once were food producers are now running for their lives before the advancing dust storms.The Sahara is growing by 7 kilometros a day\n\n.The world population has doubled in the last fifty years ,faster than  humanity has ever done since we became homosapians. we are loosing species every minute.We are in fact witness to a mass extinction for the first time again since the day of the dinasaurs.\n\nAGRICULTURAL LAND IS LOST ALL OVER THE GLOBE.TO DESERTIFICATION ,OVERPUMPING OF CARBON AQUIFIERS.\nForest fires and deforestacion (to create more farmlands )are detroying that which make the water.\n\nEACH YEAR THERE ARE LESS AND LESS FARMERS,their sons becoming something else , in Africa there are many dying of aids  In china many lost their lands, \n\nAnd each year these less and less farmers have to feed an increase of (,at the moment) 70 million people.(But this is speeding up.)\n\nTo produce a ton of maize takes 1000 tons of water.If you havent got water but you have money,such as China,you will buy water in the form of maize,and at high prices.\n\nCanada and Australia have limited their sales already and only to their regular good customers.Other countries WILL sell causing inflation and rising food prices at home and so produce unstable governments.\n\nwe find ourselves in a bubble econemy about to burst.\n\nthe bottom line is that with less land,less farmers and less water.the global farming comunity will not be able to feed everybody in the world.\n\nThe disapearing biomass is threatening our very atmosphere.\neach rise of temperature by one degree means 10% of croploss.And the planet is getting hotter.\n\nThe sea is rising ,which means more loss of agricultural land.\n\nThe world desperately needs alternative ways to produce food.\n\nso to save Mankind,to save the world ,to change the tide, to tip the balance and to answer the question ,\n\nthe solution is that \nif the billions of people on this planet who have any ground at all ;grow something.\n\nTo combat rising food prices by bringing an enormous amount of food unto the local markets ,\n\ncombat the threat to the global environment ,by creating an enormous amount of biomass which will produce humidity,\nAnd all of it outside and beyond the concept of agriculture.\n\nThe many billions of pieces of land are there,and so are the people.Just buy a spade and get some seeds.the books exist,\n\nI recommend Permaculture since that is my area ,but their are many other concepts.\n\nAnd you will get healthy and cheap food,not to speak of making the place beautifull.\n\nIn this way we can get to Paradise without having to die first
714120
Genetic engineering can, indeed solve many health and ecological issues such as preventing diseases involved in transcription, etc. and increasing crop yield.  Whether or not it's the hope of the future is unique to each person.
30031
i thionk the answer is pure greed. the world produces enough food to feed us all. unfortunatly, there are governments that refuse help in feeding their citizens( n. korea) and countries that are so corrupt, that the leaders accept the aid and seize it and sell it on the open market, allowing their citizens to starve (somalia) i dont believe that hunger will ever end on this planet.
502935
Pesticides are responsible for our ability to feed the world. Without pesticides we could not produce enough food to feed even 1/10th of the people alive today. The rest would starve because crops would be eaten by insects.\n\nPesticides are largely responsible for controlling animal born diseases. Without pesticides millions would die every DAY from diseases such as malaria, bubonic plague and West Nile Virus.\n\nPesticides enable us to maintain huge wilderness reserves. Without pesticides food production would be so low we would have to clear all wilderness areas and turn it into farmland just to avoid starvation and as a result kill all wild animals and plants.\n\nPesticides enable us to produce food far, far more cheaply than without. That makes meat and fresh fruit and vegetables available to the average person, something that was impossible before pesticides were invented. As a result pesticides enable a far higher level of health and a dramatically lower incidence of diseases such as cancer.
1074868
GM crops have helped to stop famine in 3rd world countries. It has saved MILLIONS of men, women, and children. \n\nPatrick Moore, one of the founders of Greenpeace, says:\n\n"Activists persist in their zero-tolerance campaign against genetically enhanced varieties of food crops when there is zero evidence of harm to human health or the environment, and the benefits are measurable and significant. Genetically enhanced (GE) food crops result in reduced chemical pesticides, higher yield, and reduced soil erosion. Golden Rice, for example, could prevent blindness in 500,000 children per year in Asia and Africa if activists would stop blocking its introduction. Other varieties of food crops will contain iron, Vitamin E, enhanced protein and better oils. No other technology can match the potential of GE to address the nutritional deficiencies of billions of people. The anti-GE campaign seeks to deny these environmental and nutritional advances by using “Frankenfood” scare tactics and misinformation campaigns."
795045
Some advantages are reduced need for pesticides because the crops are grown to resist infestation (e.g. BT corn- resistant to corn borers). Crops can also be modified to have higher nutritional value. There are endless possibilities. There is also research being done on edible vaccines (which would be easier to administer to large populations in a short period of time, especially children), as well as other medical applications and treatments including cancer prevention and treatment. \n\nAs a point of interest, you might want to note that all banana's sold in north america are genetically modified and have been for decades (not sure of exact date).\n\nIf you want to know more about the Canadian governments' views on GM food and products here is the web site I used for a school project last month. It may also give you other ideas on where to find more information.\n\nhttp://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/biotech/gen/queste.shtml#env
280926
That refers, I believe, to genetic modification of foods.  Some people labled these as "Frankenfoods" (take off of the Frankenstein monster) to symbolize what happens when science tries to modify things.\nSomehow, they think that modified corn...which now grows twice as fast and has more nutrients in it...will harm us.  Instead of realizing that we can feed twice as many people, and feed the hungry all over the world, they just stick their fingers in their ears and become afraid of science, afraid of change.
571989
I dont think large scale enhanced crops are a good idea except when the need is in place. \n\nBut if you think about it, naturally grown crops are really just a very slow version of the process they are trying to achieve.. farmers only use the good seeds, and take the best seeds to make the plants to produce the seeds. so its not very different.. only genetic designed crops are a way faster way to achieve it\n\nI say crops for human consumption are bound to reach the enhanced version, so if we want to keep the natural one it wont be for human consumption.
519972
There is more good that will likely come out of genetic engineering than bad.\n\nWith genetic engineering we could cure a lot of diseases that are genetic in nature and if we require all children with certain genetic disorders be treated then we could completely eliminate such things as Downs Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, etc.\n\nThe option of creating smarter children is also a good one and one which we should not be resisting.  If there are any worries that the rich will use the technology to give their children a competitive advantage then we should be subsidising genetic engineering for those who aren't rich instead of banning it.\n\nOn a more subtle note genetic engineering of crops is really just a more refined and controllable version of what we have been doing for thousands of years anyway so I don't see any reason to object to it provided it is well regulated.  The ability to make healthy food tasty that it provides would be a far better solution to the problem of childhood obesity than banning the sale of the food that the kids are actually willing to eat.
179623
Monsanto the chemical manufacturer (makes Roundup) is # 1 in developing GMOs. There are a lot of websites to look at but I recommend www.organicconsumers.org or www.slowfood.com . I am a chef who uses organic foods to produce healthy gourmet products and learned alot just trying to shop for non-GMO foods. We owe it to ourselves not to purchase foods from grocers and restaurants that are GMOs. I'll bet they do not even know what there products are made from. Patronize farmers markets, natural food stores etc. that provide you with healthy foods. You will be amazed at how delicious real food is.
124851
It isn't in the genes. We have a problem in the world with poor nutrtion. Obesity is on a major rise. This isn't a problem that they had 100 years ago. This is a problem that started with the rise of fast food chaines and convenience foods.