This was a short, simplistic slideshow on a certain effect of GM foods that many people are unaware of. Though it is, once again, very simplistic, it gets the information across well enough.
Some information has been repeated from the previous post. Sorry.
Some information has been repeated from the previous post. Sorry.
In 1996, approximately 4.3 million acres of agricultural land where devoted to the growing of genetically modified crops.
In 2000, approximately 109 million acres of agricultural land where devoted to the growing of genetically modified crops. 109 million acres is quite nearly twice the size of the United Kingdom.
A Large And Growing Method
(Pardon the pun)
(Pardon the pun)
Do you enjoy extra-large, extra-sweet fruits? Vegetables that have not been sprayed with pesticide? Perhaps the idea of food that grows faster, too, if you are an agricultural worker, or very hungry, appeals. Crops that will not freeze if that autumn frost hits a bit early? Very nice. What about foods containing extra vitamins, to treat malnutrition? Being able to eat a strawberry instead of taking a shot?
It all sounds very nice, doesn't it? And it is. BUT IT IS NOT WORTH THE CONSEQUENCES! And here is why.
The Big Catch
Actually, this slide ought to be entitled “A big catch”, rather than “The big catch”, for there is an incredible number of problems to do with genetic modification of food, specifically here the genetic modification of food crops, amongst which are ethics and the safety of the consumers. There are also environmental concerns, and though the preservation of our habitat is equally important compared to the people who depend upon it, it is the impacts of genetic modification on society that will here be discussed.
So, where to begin? The preliminary fact of importance is the high cost of genetic modification. Only large companies can afford to do it. (And just who holds most of the large companies? Yep, you guessed it.) So, to simplify the situation, a large, wealthy company from a large, wealthy country will grow gigantic, pest resistant, and often better tasting food crops in such an area in which they can be grown. As for any local farmers, well, they are hopelessly outmatched. They cannot compete. To make matters worse, the profits made by the large, wealthy companies return to their large, wealthy countries, leaving little behind.
Of course, many people will say that this may be all right; these huge quantities of genetically modified foods may be used to feed said broke farmers. But, as anyone could figure out, the vast majority of the produce will go directly and exclusively towards wealthy consumers, and whatever charitable compensation received by the third world will be insufficient to sustain them.
