GMOs Trade: Allowed or Not in USA Market? - Essay Sample

Introduction

The answer to the question of whether or not GMOs trade should be allowed in the USA market is controversial and debatable. GMO, to begin with, stands for the Genetically Modified Organisms, where the term genetically implies the gene makeup of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) whereas Modified and Organisms implies altering or changing and living things respectively (Mawere, Munyaradzi, and Nhemachena 89). Even though GM technologies have exacerbated the food supply to meet the increasing global food demand, the technology poses numerous health and environmental risks that make the challenges outweigh the benefits. The above statement explains my position of demoting GMO products and terminates their trade in the US market. Therefore, this paper underscores a critical discussion on the controversies associated with GMO products and whether or not their trade should be allowed in the US Markets.

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Background Information

Historical Information

In the past few decades, since the inclusion of the GMO products, the public or consumers view GMO food as "unnatural." The public thinks that genetic engineering has meddled with the natural evolved biological process; hence, it has its limitations. There has also been a concern among those who perceive these foods that they are risky as risky for consumption; hence, the public needs more information about these foods.

Although Genetically Modified Organisms contribute immensely in increasing crop yield, pest, and disease resistance in cops, reduced cost of food or drug production, the majority are concerned about the health risk these products behold. Some of these risks include the allergic reactions that GMOs causes as well as the possible transfer effects of antibiotic resistance because many antibiotic resistance genes are used in GM technologies. It is because of these health and environmental risk that I find the trade of these products in the US market uncalled for and their consumption unsafe hence should be eradicated.

Moreover, it is also critical to note that, the divisive controversies between the anti-GMO and pro-GMO crusaders have affected the public a great deal. As a result, the majority are toned between what to eat or use in their farms due to the divided opinion presented by the two parties the majority are divided on which way to go. Therefore, until the controversies are resolved, the use of GMOs will remain supported and opposed in equal measure.

Major Points

Argument 1: Negative Perceptions of GMOs

In a move to uphold and concur with my viewpoint, the negative perception of GMOs perpetrated by leaders such as Jeffrey M. Smith who has been against Genetically Modified Organisms products and has even gone public in media have thwarted the trade of these products (Marris 546). Notably, despite the fact that some religious leaders are in support of the use of GMO food consumption; some substantial number are not. For instance, the Orthodox and Muslims are against their consumptions while the Jews are in support.

A famous food writer Michael Pollen suggested that GMO products should be labeled. According to him, people should have a choice to either consume this food type or not. In an interview, the Non-GMO project communication manager, Caroline Kinsman posited that it is not legally or scientifically defensible to brand a product GMO-free by mere labeling unless the product has undergone a rigorous process of verification. She added that variety of products are only tested at the final stage and this explains why it is hard to find traces of GMOs products although ingredients used might have had some traces of GMO (Chien 56). These controversies surrounding GMO product on both their marketing strategies and the safety of their content is enough indicator and warning on the public about the detrimental effects GMOs behold hence should not be promoted.

Argument 2: Dispute on the Environment

Since GMO crops are planted in the fields, there is a transfer of pollen grains from GMO plants to natural plants and food chains. Due to this reason, there have been concerns involving gene flow, unnecessary pest destruction, greenhouse gas emissions. The drugs used to control pest in GMO affect other non-targeted pests such as European corn borer. Researches ascertain that genes from GMO plants are likely to find their way into another organism like endogenous genes through a process called gene crossing (Marris 62). If this crossing happens between a weed and GMO plant, it makes the weed to be herbicide resistant. In addition, there is also the issue of the drift pollen grain emanating from various genetically modified crops that have marred GMOs significantly. The GMOs have potential environmental risk from gene contamination, species erosion and other mutations that have detrimental implications on the environment thus their trade in the USA market for me is a No.

Argument 3: Moves in the GMOs technology

The issue concerning regulation, 64 countries in the world have accepted GMO food on condition that they should be labeled. In the US, the new federal rules taking effect states that there is no need for labeling GMO products as long as they have no health problems. A study conducted in 2007 suggested that once the labeling rules were affected, few products contained GM ingredients (Hilbeck, Meier, and Trtikova 9). American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) stated that labeling could serve as a misleading that GMO products are not saving. According to AAAS labeling these products, do not mean that they are dangerous because science is very clear that crop improvement by molecular techniques is safe. Regulation bodies have been facing critics that are not presenting the public interest effectively. For instance, the Chinese biosafety committee is only involved with biotechnology (Marris 120).

Additionally, the other controversies include poor research techniques by companies to respond to serious public concern. Some biotechnology companies such as the Monsanto have used certain technology repeatedly in the same field and on the same crop, a scenario that has made insects and pest develop resistance. Those in support of GMO argue that is cumbersome to obtain a GMO-free product. Even with the labeling of some products by certain companies, as GMO- free products, it is hard to prove.

In my personal viewpoint, due to the rising demand of food globally because of the perpetual increase of world's population day in day out GM technology plays a vital and indispensable role in ensuring global food security. However, despite this incredible benefits of GMO, the potential challenges the products behold on health and environment are much more significant and detrimental hence this informs my position of not allowing the products in the USA markets.

Conclusion

In summary, there is a dispute on the health condition of the GMOs. According to the scientific consensus that currently exists, GM product poses no risks to human health. The members of the public have less likelihood to accept genetic products as safe for consumptions. In response to this concern, the European Commission, for instance, funded scientist group to test the GM products in response to the public interest. They concluded the same results that the products are safe. Therefore, since the challenges associated with these products mainly environmental and health risks outweigh the sole goal of Global Food Security, GMOs should not be sold in the USA markets.

Works Cited

Chien, Shanley. "Genetically Modified Food Is Healthy." Global Sustainability, edited by Dedria Bryfonski, Greenhaven Press, 2016.

Hilbeck, Angelika, Matthias Meier, and Miluse Trtikova. "Underlying reasons for the controversy over adverse effects of Bt toxins on lady beetle and lacewing larvae." Environmental Sciences Europe 24.1 (2012): 9.

Marris, Claire. "Public views on GMOs: deconstructing the myths: Stakeholders in the GMO debate often describe public opinion as irrational. But do they understand the public?." EMBO reports 2.7 (2001): 545-548.

Mawere, Munyaradzi, and Artwell Nhemachena. GMOs, Consumerism and the Global Politics of Biotechnology: Rethinking Food, Bodies, and Identities in Africa's 21st Century. 2017. Print. Harmon, Amy. "A lonely quest for facts on genetically modified crops." New York Times, (2014).