WACS100 Academic Communication in Science Management

Introduction:

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms whose genetics are modified by the use of genetic engineering methods and techniques. They are also called genetically engineered organisms. GMOs offer wide varieties of uses including the making of modified foods and other goods. Naturally, GMOs are made from existing organisms whose genetics are modified by the insertion or deletion of specific genes from other organisms.

This report consists of the various uses of a genetically modified crops and organisms. The reports of the farmers who are willing to use GMOs in farming is also included here.

Results:

Farmers’ attitudes to genetically modified crops

Table 1. Willingness to adopt GMOs by key variables

NB: Subjects who did not respond excluded

Table 2: Interest in trying GMOs by education and use of organic farming practices

Discussion:

Modification in genetics involves the successful mutation, deletion and insertion of genes from other organisms to produce a completely different organism (Mandell et al. 2015). This process is usually done by the insertion of a virus, electroporation techniques and using gene gun.

Since ancient times, humans have cultivated plants where organisms with specific traits and characteristics are bred to be cultivated while the non-required organisms are not bred. This process is termed as selective breeding (Jiang 2013). Genetic modifications are very similar to this process. Cohen and Boyer made the first genetically modified organism in 1973 (Rangel 2015). They took a gene from resistant bacteria and infused it to a plasmid. The plasmid was allowed to be taken by another bacterium, which then showed the same characteristics of resistance.

The gene induction is a method that provides modification to original species. These modifications are wide in scope and are very different (Lusser et al. 2012). The transgenic modification is done by mutating an organism by injecting a gene from other species. The species can be of the same kingdom or different kingdom. The cisgenic modification is another modification that is achieved from gene transfer from same species or related ones. Lastly, subgenic modifications are achieved by gene knockout or gene knockdown from and existing species.

The largest review in GM crops was concluded in 2014 stating the positive impacts of them (Yang and Chen 2016). The analysis included the review of all papers published for economical considerations of three major crops like the soybean, maize and cotton. The results show that herbicide resistant crops had a lower production cost while insect resistant crops had high prices of seed, which made the overall, cost the same. In developing countries, farmers who adapted the use of GM crops showed 69% more yield.

Genetically modified crops that are grown show specific traits that are very useful in the market including more preservation life and more nutritional value. They also show other specific characteristics like disease resistance, herbicide resistance and pesticide resistance (Qaim and Kouser 2013). The byproducts achieved from them included the bio-fuels and bio-drugs.

Although genetically modified crops are tested before their commercial uses, they still impose some constraints. The extensive uses of these crops are better quality and taste. The crops made are unique and provides more taste including the making of sweet crops sweeter and spicy crops spicier (Green 2012). Modifications also provide better health resistance to the person consuming them. They also provide many benefits like cheaper production for both the wealthy and the rich farmers. However, there are also many disadvantages to using these crops. These crops produce genetically modified bugs also called superbugs, which are also resistant to pesticides and insecticides. Cross-pollination is not possible and hence cross-pollination is only done with an organic and modified plant (Qaim and Kouser 2013). This makes a controversy of the plant produced where the crop will be either organic or modified. While GM crops provide cost based benefits, the seeds cannot be reused and this causes the farmers to buy seeds after each use and thus reduces the profit.

The regulations on genetically modified crops impose certain challenges involving the large-scale use of these crops. For example, the crops that are generally not made to be consumed as food are not generally reviewed by authorities of food government (Vigani, Raimondi and Olper 2012). The controversies are different in different countries and it is dependent on the way these crops are being used.

Genetically modified crops are a very controversial topic and are a subject for protests, legislation and court action. The controversies are mainly associated with biotechnological companies, farmers and government and non-government organizations. The aspects for controversies include the health related risks, regulators and labeling of GM foods. The regulatory policies are different in countries where some totally ban the use of them while others widely allow their use. In Canada, before the widespread consumption of GM crops, Health Canada does a thorough safety check on them, which can range up to many years (Hilbeck et al. 2015). However, labeling is not required in Canada. Some companies do label them while others do not. Labeling as GM crops tells people of the food having genetically modified ingredients.

Genetically modified foods are being produced in Canada but labeling is not issued by the government. Hence, it becomes difficult to know the existence of GM ingredients in the food (Vigani and Olper 2013). Most of the modified foods are exported outside the country. According to a survey commissioned by Health Canada, people want the labeling of products to identify them based on modifications. Consumers are not satisfied with the taste of them and are more biased towards traditionally grown crops.

Thus, it can be concluded from the report that the use of genetically modified foods is approved in Canada but the use of it is not accepted by consumers and many other non-government organizations. The results included in the report shows a significant amount of percentage in adapting to GM crops. While most farmers are aiming to cultivate organic crop, there are some percentage of them that is involved with the use of genetically modified crops.

References:

Green, J.M., 2012. The benefits of herbicide?resistant crops. Pest management science, 68(10), pp.1323-1331.

Hilbeck, A., Binimelis, R., Defarge, N., Steinbrecher, R., Székács, A., Wickson, F., Antoniou, M., Bereano, P.L., Clark, E.A., Hansen, M. and Novotny, E., 2015. No scientific consensus on GMO safety. Environmental Sciences Europe, 27(1), p.4.

Jiang, G.L., 2013. Molecular markers and marker-assisted breeding in plants. In Plant breeding from laboratories to fields. Intech.

Lusser, M., Parisi, C., Plan, D. and Rodriguez-Cerezo, E., 2012. Deployment of new biotechnologies in plant breeding. Nature biotechnology, 30(3), pp.231-239.

Mandell, D.J., Lajoie, M.J., Mee, M.T., Takeuchi, R., Kuznetsov, G., Norville, J.E., Gregg, C.J., Stoddard, B.L. and Church, G.M., 2015. Biocontainment of genetically modified organisms by synthetic protein design. Nature, 518(7537), pp.55-60.

Qaim, M. and Kouser, S., 2013. Genetically modified crops and food security. PloS one, 8(6), p.e64879.

Rangel, G., 2015. From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology. Science in the News website. https://sitn. hms. harvard. edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/. Published August, 9.

Vigani, M. and Olper, A., 2013. GMO standards, endogenous policy and the market for information. Food Policy, 43, pp.32-43.

Vigani, M., Raimondi, V. and Olper, A., 2012. International trade and endogenous standards: the case of GMO regulations. World Trade Review, 11(3), pp.415-437.

Yang, Y.T. and Chen, B., 2016. Governing GMOs in the USA: science, law and public health. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 96(6), pp.1851-1855.