Benefits of Genetically Engineered Foods

Genetically engineered foods are those that have had certain suitable genes from other related or unrelated species- animals and plants put into their genetic codes, using advanced biotechnology in a lab environment.

The results are indeed very quick and accurate, particularly as compared to the traditional breeding methods. The main purpose of using this technology in farming and nutrition is potentially improved nutrition, being able to provide better protection from herbicides and pesticides and reduced costs.

Corn, soybean, squash, alfalfa, wheat, rice canola oil, tomatoes, potatoes, cotton, strawberries and pineapples are the most common crops that have been modified genetically. Organic foods are never genetically engineered.

We are what we eat and food is one of the most important components of our lives and the truth is no one knows about the long-term effects of genetically engineered foods on human health. There is a lot of stuff scientists do not know yet and testing on humans has not been possible or is too expensive for the results they will come up with.

On the other hand, many scientists claim that genetically modified crops are as safe as those developed by conventional breeding for hundreds of years and that it is only a matter of adding another gene into a plant which does nothing but behave like the other genes. They are safe and environmentally friendly with results nutritious and tasty.

 

Benefits of Genetically Engineered Foods:

• Food crops that are tolerant to harsh climatic conditions and extremes in weather- for example a cold water fish gene inserted into plants make them stronger against frost

• Improved quantity- larger yield and quality of crops

• Crops that are better able to resist viruses, insects and tolerate pesticides and herbicides

• Enhanced nutritional profile– more vitamins and minerals and improved better taste: vitamin A enhanced golden color rice may help prevent blindness, that is common in third world countries (and a lot of these people rely on rice for survival) due to vitamin A deficiency and the golden rice seeds are being given away for free by certain charitable foundations

• More favorable characteristics for certain foods: potatoes that soak up less oil when deep-fried

• Genes carrying allergy causing proteins in nuts and other foods may be removed in the future by the same biotechnology- scientists are currently working on Brazil nuts and peanuts

• Reduced costs to avoid financial losses and to be able to provide an adequate food supply for the increasing world population

• Reduced need to use herbicides and pesticides to protect the crops from diseases, hence protecting the environment (for example by not poisoning the water supply) and the consumers from potential health hazards

• Possibility of growing plants on land that was impossible to use for plant cultivation before- high salt soil in places where droughts are common

• Longer shelf life for fruits, vegetables and herbs at the supermarkets and being able to ship them to longer distances

• Getting rid of heavy metal pollution from the soil- genetically engineered poplar trees are great for this purpose

• Edible vaccines that are inserted into bananas, potatoes and tomatoes may also be developed and shipped to third world countries as the production and storage of vaccines and medicines are often quite expensive and are not available for many third world countries.

 

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