A synopsis on the advantages and disadvantages of their use in agriculture by Jacob Sparks

1. Genetically Modified Organisms
A synopsis on the advantages and
disadvantages of their use in agriculture
by Jacob Sparks

2. What is a GMO?
 Genetically modified organisms (abbreviated
GMO) are plants and animals whose genetic
material has been altered through the use of
genetic engineering techniques.
 Genetic engineering is the scientific manipulation of
genetic material.
 In the case of agriculture, genetic engineering is
used to provide plants and animals with certain
agriculturally beneficial characteristics.

3. Origin of GMOs
 Genetic engineering first began in 1973 when two scientists cut a
section of DNA from bacteria and inserted it into an entirely different
strand of DNA.
 However, the first genetic engineering of agricultural products did not
begin until 1986 when genetically modified tobacco was tested in
Belgium.
 Genetically modified tomatoes were approved for commercial
production in 1992 and were deemed “not inherently dangerous” by the
FDA.
 GMOs eventually became approved in the European Union and
became more wide spread throughout the world as time passed.

4. Why are Plants Genetically
Modified?
 The main purpose of GMOs from an agricultural standpoint is to
increase the durability of crops.
 This is done through inserting genes into plants, such as Bacillus
Thuringiensis (BT), that makes plants resistant to insects.
 Other genes are also inserted into crops that cause virus resistance
and herbicide tolerance (resistance to weeds and other harmful
plants).
 The increased durability of crops results in less crops being
destroyed, thus causing greater food production and lower food
prices.
 Squash, corn, potatoes, and soybeans are examples of crops
that are often genetically modified.
BT Corn

5. Why are Animals Genetically
Modified?
 Animals are genetically modified because they are
perceived to have some economic benefit to both
farmers and everyday people.
 For example, animals raised for the products they
produce are genetically modified to make more of that
product.
 For example, sheep are genetically modified to grow more
wool.
 Pigs and cows are genetically modified to have more meat on
them.
 Experimentation is also occurring to produce disease
resistant animals such as pigs resistant to the influenza
Genetically Modified Cow
virus.

6. How Common are GMO Foods?
 Surprisingly, approximately 80% of packaged grocery
foods in the United States and Canada are genetically
modified in some way.
 Common genetically engineered foods in the US include
corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, beets, papaya, squash,
and zucchini.
 Though most animals in US agriculture aren’t
genetically engineered, most are raised eating
genetically engineered grains.

7. Land Dedicated to Genetically Modified
Crops by Country

8. Advantages and Disadvantages of GMOs
Advantages Disadvantages
Higher yield of crops due to less crops GMO foods don’t taste as natural as non GMO
damaged by insects and disease foods
Less pesticides need to be purchased and Some organisms (such as butterflies and
used, causing more economically productive bees)
farmers and less pollution are harmed by pesticides in GMO foods
Food production increased, causing Labeling GMO foods causes additional
decreasing starvation in LDCs expenses in processing and labeling
Added nutritional value in food due to Possible cross pollination of GMO foods with
incorporating additional vitamins into crops non GMO foods result in the inability to track
GMOs
Smell of GMO foods are often enhanced Insects can possibly evolve to be resistant to
insect resistant GMO crops
GMO foods do not need as fertile land as Cross pollination of GMO crops with weeds
natural foods in order to grow could result in “super weeds”
Less additives are needed to keep GMO foods New allergies could develop to GMO foods
fresh
GMO crops are less likely to get sicknesses Possible health complications could arise due
to unknown long term affects of GMO foods
GMO crops that freeze less in the winter can GMO crops sometimes fail like normal crops
be produced (genetically modified cotton has failed in India)

9. Sources
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gmo
 http://www.panacea-bocaf.org/geneticallymodifiedfood.htm
 http://www.bestthinking.com/trendingtopics/science/is-there-a-place-for-genetically-modified-animals-in-your-
future-
 http://www.nwrage.org/category/topics/genetically-engineered-animals?page=3
 http://sustainablepulse.com/2012/09/12/gmo-evidence-launches-worldwide-research-site/
 http://library.thinkquest.org/20830/Manipulating/Experimentation/GenEngineering/history.htm
 http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/gmos_india/history.html
 http://organic.lovetoknow.com/History_of_GMOs
 http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/margawati.html
 http://eatorganicdaily.blogspot.com/2012/06/has-china-created-their-own-genetically.html
 http://www.rodale.com/genetically-modified-organisms-foods
 http://justlabelit.org/about-ge-foods/ge-crop-history/
 http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/02/adoption_genetically_modified_crops
 http://csanad.hubpages.com/hub/GMO-advantages-and-disadvantages
 http://www.ehow.com/list_5954378_advantages-disadvantages-gmo.html
 http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XccXf0NzAX8/Tvlcf9xYI_I/AAAAAAAA3xU/QF6htrfFj2g/s1600/zionpist-winston-
churchill+%25289%2529.jpg
 http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/