Discuss the Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food

With the rapid growth of the world population, feeding the world has become one of the most critical challenges. Modern biotechnology may provide us with more opportunities to achieve this. Genetically modified food (GM food) is possibly the most effective way among this field. Lately, the controversy on GM food acquires massive media coverage. The critical argument mainly focuses on environmental issues, human health crisis and economic worries; however, the advocate states that GM food contributes more to benefit the farmers, feed the world and promote ecosystem development. Therefore, this essay aims to argue that GM food plays an increasingly important role in sustainable development because of solutions of environmental pollution and human health crisis.

When it comes to the present risks of GM food, professional organization and some scientists have concerns mainly because of three aspects. Among risks related to the environment, gene flow is always the primary one. Weil (2005, p. 313) states that the pollen of genetically modified plants (GM plants) could be transferred to the non-genetically modified plants by wind. Specifically, pollen from B.t. corn, which is produced through genetically modification, might lead to mass extinction of monarch butterfly caterpillars that consume milkweed plants rather than corn (Whitman 2000, p. 5). To explain, if B.t. corn pollen were blown onto milkweed plants consumed by caterpillars, it could cause massive death of caterpillars (Whitman 2000, p. 5), the same as what Gewin (2003, p. 16) mentions, pollen and seeds from genetically modification may undesignedly transfer genetic traits to crops or wild relatives nearby while they move in the environment. Therefore, it may result in weeds creation, biodiversity reduction and non-target species harm (Gewin 2003, p. 16). Public groups reject GM food partially because of human health hazards it caused, such as allergies and even unknown effects. Fox example, the...