Saving The World. have risen dramatically over the past couple of years and families can not afford to keep up.

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1 Bennett 1 Hannah Bennett Mrs. Kolp 11B, block 1 30 March 2017 Saving The World Eight hundred million people remain chronically malnourished at the beginning of the twenty-first century (Paarlberg). Nearly one in nine people nationwide are starving. Food prices have risen dramatically over the past couple of years and families can not afford to keep up. Millions around the world do not know where their next meal will come from; for some eating is a luxury (Wambugu). Small land farmers in poor countries are struggling to make their land productive. Using new technologies to produce food could go a long way towards solving hunger issues. Biotech crops can ensure there's enough to eat for everyone (Paarlberg). Genetically modified food technologies are creating crops that are cheaper to farm. When crops are produced at a lower cost, more can be produced rapidly and sold at a reasonable price. If the cost of crops decreases, millions of people would be able to put food on their plates. The technologies put into these crops are also creating insect and fungus resistant organisms. When the crops are already build to resets and kill off their predators, fewer pesticides have to be used. When fewer pesticides are used fewer chemicals are being sprayed and going into our environment. Genetically modified food technologies should be used to help fight against world hunger issues. Genetically modified food is the product of introducing new traits into crops by physically pulling individual genes from already existing organisms and putting them into newly formed plants (Paarlberg). Humans have been genetically modifying for over 30,000 years

2 Bennett 2 (Rangel). Although our ancestors had no idea of what genetics even were, they were still able to influence the DNA of other organisms by Selective breeding. The dog is believed to be the first organism to be genetically modified. Domesticated groups hoped to create an easily managed and handled group of animals. Selective breeding has also been used in various crops. The first recorded evidence of this dated all the way back to 7800 B.C., where the scientist had found various forms of domesticated wheat (Rangel). Even though genetically modifying organisms is an ancient process it is still being used today. A huge breakthrough in genetically modified food technologies came in the nineteen seventies when a scientist was able to cut out specific genes from one organism and put it with another. In 1975, the Asilomar Conference was held where scientists, lawyers, and government officials came together to talk about the guidelines that need to be followed to continue the research of genetically modified technology. Due to the Asilomar Conference, many governments around the world showed their support in the research of genetically modified food, leading to a new area of genetic modification (Rangel). Genetically modified technology increases crop growth rate and shelf life. A scientist can copy the desired growth rate from one organism and paste it to another. With this new technology, farmers can grow crops at a more desired rate that can stock the market. When the desired crop is put into the market, the price begins to decrease due to the high crop production rate (Diehl). The first GM food, the Flavr-Savr Tomato, reduced the cost to produce canned tomato products about 20% and numerous studies have shown an economic benefit for farmers planting GM crops (Diehl). Livestock can even be raised cheaper by feeding animals

3 Bennett 3 genetically modified feed. When the price of food becomes lower, more families can afford to put food on the table. Underprivileged countries are huge beneficiaries of genetically modified food technology. Small landowning farmers in countries such as Kenya, struggle to make their land productive. Scientists inject proteins into an organism's genome to help the crop withstand the unpredictable weather. Harsh weather conditions such as drought and flooding are the main causes for struggling farmer s misfortune. Farmers can use less land and water when working with the modified crops. When farmers in starving countries are able to produce a bountiful harvest by using modified crops, they are able to feed those in need (Maurer). Since the beginning of time, farmers have been looking for a way to protect their crops from intruding insects and bacteria. A scientist may have found a solution to this ever growing problem, genetically modifying organisms. Since the mid-1950 s, farmers have been using pesticides to sterilize their crops. The use of pesticides can lead to health effects in humans and the environment. Pesticides have become common around the world, to protect crops from unwanted pest and bacteria, but has been more harm than good. The effects of pesticides can range from headaches and nausea to cancer. The scientist is able to introduce different kinds of proteins into crops, allowing the crops to protect themselves against intruders (Wambugu). Plants can suffer from infections caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes, and other pathogens (Wambugu). Insects can also be a cause of farmers having heavy plant loss. With genetically modifying crops, farmers are able to have healthier harvests without the use of pesticides, making it safer for humans to consume.

4 Bennett 4 Genetically modified food technologies are relatively new to the market, and many people have undecided opinions towards the new technology. There are concerns that the genetically altered form of a crop will mix with the naturally existing form. The mixing of the two can lead to a mutation in the crop. Plants rely on the transfer of pollen to reproduce, so if a crop were to become mutated, the mutated plant would spread quickly throughout nature (Gundersen). The newly formed plant could be toxic or cause allergies in individuals. Although there are many concerns towards the mutation of naturally occurring crops, there is no research supporting that the mutated crop is toxic to humans. Genetically modified technologies are still a relatively new and innovative idea in both the scientific and agricultural world. The new technologies have created better ways to feed the poor. Modifications made to organisms help to increase growth rate and shelf life, along with helping farmers in developing countries generate a productive harvest. New advancements have made it possible for crops to survive harsh weather conditions. Pesticides have now become a thing of the past, making room for genetically modified technology. If genetically modified crops were not invented, there could be more countries suffering from famine.

5 Bennett 5 Works Cited Diehl, Paul. Can Genetically Modified Food Feed the World? The Balance, Accessed 28 Mar Gundersen, Craig. Cheap food? Thank GMOs. Genetic Literacy Project, 7 Nov. 2015, Accessed 28 Mar Maurer, Anna. From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology. Science in the News, 23 Oct. 2016, sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-hist ory-of-gmo-technology/. Accessed 28 Mar Paarlberg, Robert. "The Global Food Fight: Genetically Modified Foods at Home and Abroad. (GM Foods)." Montana Business Quarterly, Autumn 2001, p General Reference Center GOLD, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=grgm&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=ga LE%7CA &it=r&asid=73c3c55cf179aead0435c99d37cb2152. Accessed 17 Mar Rangel, David. "Why We Will Need Genetically Modified Foods: climate change will make it increasingly difficult to feed the world." MIT Technology Review, Jan.-Feb. 2014, p General Reference Center GOLD, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=grgm&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=ga

6 Bennett 6 LE%7CA &it=r&asid=e850e585550eccea98f8d995cf664c2d. Accessed 20 Mar Wambugu, Florence. "Feeding Africa." New Scientist, 27 May 2000, p. 40. General Reference Center GOLD, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=grgm&sw=w&u=lom_accessmich&v=2.1&id=ga LE%7CA &it=r&asid=cb0ff3b c44407d0a c2. Accessed 20 Mar