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Genetically Modified Organisms

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Chelsi Modest
Christina LaRose
English 125-Sec. 6
31 October 2011
The Future of Food As the population continues to grow—expected to reach 9 billion by 2050—the major question is: Will we experience a food shortage? Scientists have developed what they believe is the answer to potential shortages: genetically modified crops. The genetic make-up of these crops is altered, combining genes of multiple organisms such as plants, to produce favorable outcomes such as higher yields. With genetically engineered crops ever-present in our food supply, debates have risen in the media concerning the safety and overall implication of these crops.
Conducting research on the topic, I have discovered three different perspectives on the use and implications of genetically engineered crops. One perspective, found in the article “Plant Genetics, Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food Security” by Pamela Ronald, states that genetically modified crops are essential to combat the growing population and other stresses on our agriculture industry. Another perspective, offered in the article “Genetically modified abominations?” by Jakub Kwiecinski, defines these crops as “taboo” and argues that they are ultimately morally unacceptable. The last perspective, presented in the article “Genetically Modified Foods and Public Health Debate: Designing Programs to Mitigate Risks” published in Public Administration & Management, acknowledges that there are risks associated with these crops and that more testing and regulation is needed to increase public acceptance. After review, I arrived at the conclusion that genetically modified crops are needed and that more stringent regulation and public awareness is necessary to increase acceptance.
In the article “Plant Genetics, Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food Security” by Pamela Ronald, the author makes the claim that farming

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