Genetically modified foods: a means to power

If the human population continues to grow, hunger and malnutrition crises will need to be confronted as the earth is experiencing land degradation, soil erosion, shortages of drinkable water among other issues. This week my class explored Genetically Modified foods as a solution to these problems, the bio-tech industry is attempting to sweep in as the heroes that will solve world hunger. Here's some food for thought from my LAST!!!!!! discussion for the quarter. Basically there are few corporations who own all of the patents to GM (genetically modified) foods, they want third world countries to replace their current agriculture with GM agriculture which will cause third world nations to become further dependent on wealthier nations and only make the problem of poverty and hunger more severe:

While Genetically modified food may offer benefits in the face of a world hunger and malnutrition crises, the increased use of GM crops will further increase the gap between developed and developing nations.

Genetic modification of plants and crops that have in the past been provided by third-world countries will bring about the destruction of the industries on which said less-developed nations depend (1). For example, sugar-cane syrup has been replaced by the US's GM maize syrup (1). GM technology allows for plants that could only be grown in certain areas (i.e. southern and tropical regions), to be grown in other areas...in particular,developed nations (1). If we think about this logically, when business is taken away from the developing nations, the farmers and their crops cannot continue, the developing nations then become dependent upon the wealthier nations for these foods and likely pay a higher price for them: poverty, hunger and destitution are magnified not resolved.

To summarize a disturbing example: By 2004 Argentina held 34 million acres of GMO crop planting and a few large GMO corporations were in control of these crops. One corporation in particular, Monsanto, introduced it's soybeans in 1996, by 2004 half of Argentina's crops were soybeans and 90% of those soybeans were Monsanto's brand. By 2007 "Monsanto's stock price hit an all-time high...(2)."As a result of the soybean dominance, dairy farms were slashed in half and put many Argentineans in a state of poverty (2). Eventually Monsanto convinced the Argentinean government to allow it to impose a "Technology license fee" which charged farmers 1% of all GMO sales and delivered those fees to the corporations themselves (2). Finally, the approved herbicide used for the GMO crops destroyed many other nearby crops that lacked the genetically modified resistance to the chemicals as well as caused serious health complications for local farmers and animals (2).

Not only will GM Corporations put third-world crops out of business, they will also monopolize GM crops so that even if these poorer nations begin producing their own GM crops they must go through the corporations to use them.

"Transnational corporations have acquired the right to patent seeds that they have been able to modify genetically. This means that farmers are tied into contracts to buy both seeds and chemicals and are not allowed to plant farm-saved seeds(1)." The latter portion of the quote is emphasized because of it's ridiculousness. If GM crops are intended to help resolve hunger, destitution, and poverty, why are the creators of these crops being so entirely selfish, as to not allow the farmers to save seeds for the next season!?!? It doesn't add up. What's more is that 50% of the patents are owned by a mere 13 Transnational corporations (1). If GM crops do indeed take on a great role in providing future food for our world, the power of these few corporations will be tremendous. "The primary beneficiary of Genetic Engineering is the bio-tech industry, which will obtain short-term commercial gains at the expense of the health and safety of the Earth(1)."

I think I have been clear that I do not believe that Genetically modified foods will help remedy the hunger and malnutrition crises. I am afraid that with the rising populations in third-world countries and the agricultural and water shortages many will be proponents of GM food. Another student, Hang, put it well in noting that GMOs and solving the hunger crises contradict each other. If not for the many costly effects on the environment, health and economy,we should not look to GMOs because they exploit and harm those they claim to help. I think one of the best things we can do is educate others of these issues and invest in sustainable agriculture. Again, the best way is not the easy way.