Genetically Modified Crops

Genetically modified crops, or GM crops, not only have the ability to feed millions with the increasing production of crops, but it is cheaper to produce and genetically modified crops use less pesticides and herbicides. However, many have linked GM crops to posing health risk for those with food allergies. While genetically modified crops have been broadcasted as this dangerous invention, it is truly safe and necessary for the future.

Genetically modified crops yield more compared to regular crops because they are bred that way. Germplasm is the basic information in a seed. This is what influences growth and size. When they are genetically modified, scientist improve the germplasm. This improvement is called marker-assisted breeding. Its this assistance that has nearly doubled the yield the crops produce, not to mention the size. Genetically modified crops are typically bigger and have a longer shelf life. This helps with being able to supply food to first world countries.

While it may not seem so in the beginning, GM crops are in fact cheaper to produce. Money is saved by less supplies needed to keep up with the crops. The low cost to grow the genetically modified crops is the reason food is as cheap as it is. If we did not use GMC, our food prices would be nearly double what it is now. Another reason it is so cost efficient to grow is because of the technology used to make the genetically modified seeds. This technology used for genetically modified crops is made to be as cost reducing as possible. Compared to the conventional technology used for normal crops, the prices are quite different. This is mainly due to the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Which brings me to my next point, genetically modified crops uses less pesticides and herbicides. For 2006 alone, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions associated with GMC is estimated to be equal to removing more than 500,000 cars from the road. With this being said, the use of pesticides have dropped more than 20% since 1996 due to genetically modified crops. Pesticides and herbicides are used to kill things like insects and weeds. It is quite toxic and has been linked to many human health hazards. Since GM crops are improved to not need these toxins to prevent weed growth and insects, it is not only better for humans, but the environment as well.

A common misconception constantly brought up about genetically modified crops is that these crops pose health risks for people with allergies. For example, let us say you are deathly allergic to peanuts and a scientist puts a peanut gene into a crop, how would you know? This has in fact happened before. In Brazil during the early 1990's, scientist were working with genetically modified soybeans. The scientist found that the Brazil nut protein added an improved nutritional value to the soybeans. Not that long after their discovery, those same scientist found out that this nut