Problem I:The potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods Alan McHughen, the author of "Pandora's picnic basket", begins the book with a series of questions like: "Did you know that there are fish genes in some tomatoes? That Brazil nut genes in soybeans can result in potentially lethal allergic reactions? That rapeseed plants breed to be resistant to herbicides could become uncontrollable superweeds?" One can only wonder, what about the environment? What about the harmful effect engineered genes could have on the beneficial insects? Some countries are not yet regulating genetically modified foods, which means they are not taking into full account the health and environmental risks that come with them. Ever since their induction into the market in the mid-1990s, GM foods have posed real risks, and in recent years, there have been increasing concerns and battles among politicians, scientists, entrepreneurs, consumer advocates, and environmentalists. Conversely, despite the ongoing concerns generated by the debate, "there is very little real information on the subject, either about the technologies in use, or about the regulatory processes established to protect us from potentially dangerous products" (McHugen, 2000).
Solution I: It's extremely hard to classify health problems that are the result of GM foods. "one of the most unscientific and dangerous statements made by biotech proponents is that millions of people in the US have been eating GM food for a decade and no has gottent sick. On the contrary, GM foods might already be contributing to serious, widespread health problems, but since no one is monitoring for this, it could take decades to identify" (Smith, 2007, p.10). So, wheher we realize it or not, we have been consuming GM food for some time. And the possibility that a new unintentionally allergen may introduce itself as a result of genetically modifying food does exists. Many countries around the world have taking the initiative to ban genetically modifying food from their country. Meanwhile, those that continue to sell GM food are taking proper environmental risk assessment to ensure that there are no issues concerning the environment or human health.
Problem II: There are no agreed international standards for assessing risks of GM-Crops and GM-Foods. One of the main problems for food producers is that there are no established international laws or standards for GM-crops or GM-foods. This creates a problem when importing or exporting GM-crops and GM-foods. Who is held liable if the foods are not up to par with our standards, creating political tension.
Solution II: 9 International bodies are currently working on regulating different aspects of food safety. "These institutions fall into three types. Five are largely science -based organizations: the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), International Epizootics Organization (OIE), Codex Alimentarius (Codex), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO),and the World Health Organization (WTO), is a trade-based organization. The three others have broader objectives such as environmental protection and other social or political goals: the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Regional Initiatives and the Cartagena BioSafety Protocol (BSP)". These organization came together to develop standards for health, safety, and labeling of GM-foods. Also they want to establish testing procedures to ensure that the international standards are met. Finally they want to create a system to manage GM-foods.(Phillips, 2003)
Problem III: GM crops failed to deliver promised benefits: Independent research and an on-farm surveys found that since 1999 GM crops have failed to deliver the promised benefits of significantly increase yields or decrease herbicide and pesticide use (Barbosa, 2011).
Solution III: Sustainable agriculture: Routine pesticide application has been prohibited in the organic farming.Integrated pest management has reduced the number of of pesticide sprays in Vitnam from 3.4 to one per season,in Sri Lanka from 2.9 to 0.5 per season, and in Indonesia from 2.9 to 1.1 per season. Not only sustainable agriculture prohibits routine peticide and herbicide, but also it provides better food quality for health by eliminating harmful chemicals residues (Barbosa, 2011). The link, AbleWellness, attached elaborate more on this subject.
The focal point of the next page is how moral principles deal with Genetically Modified food. Next
Problem I:The potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods
Solution I:
It's extremely hard to classify health problems that are the result of GM foods. "one of the most unscientific and dangerous statements made by biotech proponents is that millions of people in the US have been eating GM food for a decade and no has gottent sick. On the contrary, GM foods might already be contributing to serious, widespread health problems, but since no one is monitoring for this, it could take decades to identify" (Smith, 2007, p.10). So, wheher we realize it or not, we have been consuming GM food for some time. And the possibility that a new unintentionally allergen may introduce itself as a result of genetically modifying food does exists. Many countries around the world have taking the initiative to ban genetically modifying food from their country. Meanwhile, those that continue to sell GM food are taking proper environmental risk assessment to ensure that there are no issues concerning the environment or human health.
Problem II: There are no agreed international standards for assessing risks of GM-Crops and GM-Foods.
One of the main problems for food producers is that there are no established international laws or standards for GM-crops or GM-foods. This creates a problem when importing or exporting GM-crops and GM-foods. Who is held liable if the foods are not up to par with our standards, creating political tension.
Solution II: 9 International bodies are currently working on regulating different aspects of food safety.
"These institutions fall into three types. Five are largely science -based organizations: the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), International Epizootics Organization (OIE), Codex Alimentarius (Codex), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO),and the World Health Organization (WTO), is a trade-based organization. The three others have broader objectives such as environmental protection and other social or political goals: the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Regional Initiatives and the Cartagena BioSafety Protocol (BSP)". These organization came together to develop standards for health, safety, and labeling of GM-foods. Also they want to establish testing procedures to ensure that the international standards are met. Finally they want to create a system to manage GM-foods.(Phillips, 2003)
Independent research and an on-farm surveys found that since 1999 GM crops have failed to deliver the promised benefits of significantly increase yields or decrease herbicide and pesticide use (Barbosa, 2011).
Solution III: Sustainable agriculture:
Routine pesticide application has been prohibited in the organic farming.Integrated pest management has reduced the number of of pesticide sprays in Vitnam from 3.4 to one per season,in Sri Lanka from 2.9 to 0.5 per season, and in Indonesia from 2.9 to 1.1 per season. Not only sustainable agriculture prohibits routine peticide and herbicide, but also it provides better food quality for health by eliminating harmful chemicals residues (Barbosa, 2011). The link, AbleWellness, attached elaborate more on this subject.
The focal point of the next page is how moral principles deal with Genetically Modified food.
Next