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Pros of Genetically Modified Crops

Genetically modified crops generate considerable controversy, especially in parts of the world like Europe, where some countries have banned GM foods. However, many US farmers grow GM food. As of 2010, Time Magazine reports that more than 90 percent of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified and Wall Street Journal reports the percentage for US-grown corn is 80 percent GM. GM foods offer a variety of benefits, including cheaper, healthier food and reduced environmental impact.

  1. Healthier Food

    • Scientists have genetically modified some foods to include more vitamins and minerals. For example, vitamin A deficiency causes blindness, and as many as 500,000 children go blind each year as a result. A type of genetically modified rice called "golden rice" includes much higher levels of vitamin A, which allows poor people in the developing world to consume appropriate levels of vitamin A and avoid the effects of vitamin A deficiency.

    More Food

    • Scientists can modify foods to resist diseases and insects, grow closer together and grow in conditions that would kill non-modified plants, such as areas prone to droughts. All these modifications allow farmers to increase both where they can plant crops and how much they can harvest. According to Time Magazine, by 2050, the world population will reach 9 billion people, which will require farmers to provide 70 percent more food than they do currently. GM foods may allow farmers to meet this need.

    Environmental Benefits

    • According the the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, a study by the National Research Council has shown that pest-resistant GM food crops require less pesticide, which in turn reduces the amount of pesticide runoff that can inadvertently kill insects such as honey bees. Herbicide-resistant crops conserve soil as farmers no longer need to till their fields as often or disturb soil to kill weeds.

    Cheaper Food

    • Because GM foods increase yields, reduce the need for expensive and labor-intensive weed and insect controls and increase the amount of arable land, genetic modification ultimately increases the supply of food and therefore reduces its cost. According to Bloomberg, almost three dozen nations across the globe, including Haiti and Somalia, faced food riots in 2008 as a result of spikes in food prices. GM foods help alleviate problems caused by increasing food prices.

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