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Alexander Nguyen

Professor Vyvial

ENGL 1302

25 April 2017

What Can You do with GMOs: The Master Plan

Over the last decade or so, genetically modified organisms and plants have become an

intriguing and prominent discussion throughout the world. Genetically modified organisms or

plants, otherwise known as GMOs, have played a major key role in todays society. Genetically

modified organisms have become a commonplace in modern society. They are present in foods

and products such as high fructose corn syrup and the feed given to livestock animals. In

addition, GMOs have created more and more jobs for the economy; therefore, resulting in the

economy rising due to the inflation in job demand. There are more and more rising concerns

about GMOs and how they are affecting the people of Earth. Some speculate that genetically

modified organisms and plants can be harmful to humans and the environment in a wide variety

of ways. However, there are also other people that believe that GMOs are the future of

agriculture and the survival of mankind lies within genetically modified organisms and plants.

(Toft). Furthermore, there are many benefits to having genetically modified organisms and plants

but there are also risks and dangers as well. There are solutions to solve the problems that GMO

is having on the environment, mass production and agriculture industries, human nutrition, and

food supervision industries. Mankind should find solutions to problems dealing with genetically

modified organisms and plants because they are causing many dilemmas and issues to the world.
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The long-term effects of genetically modified organisms and plants are not certain. Pests

such as insects and bugs that are targeted by these agricultural methods can adapt to pesticides

and herbicides and can be even more harmful to humans. In order to fix this, humans should rely

more on organic organisms and plants. There are fewer risks of chemical intake as well as more

nutritional value in organic organisms and plants. In addition to the DNA changes in genetically

modified or GM organisms and plants, GMOs can become an invasive species that can affect

humans and cause problems to the balance of nature. Insects and bugs affected by the pesticides

and herbicides can adapt to carry the toxins within their bodies and can transfer the herbicides

and pesticides to humans. Modified organisms and plants should be kept in a contained and

isolated area that separate from the outside world. This would allow for the continuation of

genetically modified organisms and plants while reducing the risk of spreading the chemicals.

Furthermore, there have been some evidence and cases of genetically modified organisms

causing harm to humans if used long term. Some cases include allergic reactions were found in

humans when consumed, and the increasing number of bacterial strains that are resistant to

antibiotics due to the bacteria coming from GMOs. Furthermore, there has been evidence of

strains of bacteria discovered in genetically modified organisms and products. The bacteria are

located using molecular beacons that target the bacteria and light up to show where the

bacteria are located at (Levin). The bacteria can weaken the human body so that other bacteria

can cause harm. Genetically modified organisms and plants should be regulated and tested for

signs or strains of bacteria before being shipped around the world for consumer use.

Furthermore, there are many rising problems that genetically modified organisms and

plants have in the mass production and agriculture industries. Genetically modified organisms,

also known as GMOs, are for use as human foods or animal feeds are a commonplace nowadays.
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Farmers are growing insect-resistant to enable farmers to produce more products without the

interference of insects. More than a third of the worlds potential crop production is lost each

year to pests, such as weeds, insects and diseases. GMOs also can bring financial security risks

to farmers. More genetically modified organisms and plants means more investments and high

risks of losing those investments due to theft or vandalism. Therefore, farmers should hire more

security guards and more cameras for their farms to ensure maximum protection. Furthermore,

there should be an insurance plan implemented to provide coverage in case of property loss.

Farmers are having more and more difficulty eliminating specific kinds of parasitic plants

because they have evolved through cross breeding with certain GMOs to create plants that are

resistant to pesticides. Farmers should relocate and isolate the genetically modified organisms

and plants from the organic ones. This will make it so that the two types of organisms and plants

do not interbreed and develop new genes that can cause harm to the agriculture industry. The

mass production industry has having trouble dealing with all of the rules and regulations when it

comes to producing genetically modified organisms and plants.

There are concerns of what genetically modified organisms and plants will do to the

environment. Certain chemicals and toxins are being used to manipulate the organism and

enhancing it; however, this can affect the environment because the chemicals have the potential

to pollute the environment. toxicity is major issue surrounding chemical pesticides and

herbicides, used commonly with genetically modified plants. In addition, chemicals inherited by

the plants can cause harm to the entire ecosystem and affect the environment. If the plants and

organisms were isolated and separated from organic plants and organisms, cross breeding and

invasive environmental damage will decrease. Bees incredibly important to the environment and

are a part of the reproduction process of many plants. Bees provides pollination of many food
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crops and plants, but are unfortunately extremely endangered by modern agricultural techniques,

such as genetically modified, also known as GM, crops. Changes such as relocation of the

genetically modified organism farms can be made to stop GMOs from harming the bees and

saving the environment. Moreover, farmers could also get more food with less land and better

quality and better taste with GMOs. Researchers state that "food production uses a significant

quantity of land natural resources" and need fresh natural resources to operate (Sax). Healthy soil

is fundamental for crop growth and food production. Herbicide-tolerant GM crops enable

farmers to turn over and break up the soil, preserving topsoil and helping to prevent erosion.

Therefore, by creating a filter to separate the chemicals and dispose of it properly to avoid

contamination of the environment.

Furthermore, there are many issues surrounding the surveillance and monitoring if

genetically modified organisms and plants. The FDA and other food monitoring agencies are in

charge of overseeing the production and distribution of foods to the consumers. More and more

GMOs are being produce daily and the demand for genetically modified organisms and plants

are increasing. Furthermore, other food labeling industries are not labeling genetically modified

organisms or plants (Aleksejeva).Consumers should have the right to know what kind of

product they are buying and what is in that product. A solution to this problem would be to

making labeling GMO products mandatory so all foods that contain genetically modified

organisms or plants are known. This allows the consumer to know exactly what kind of product

they are buying. According to research, consumers are more likely to buy a product and are not

concerned whether or not it has GMO. (Hemphill) Therefore, by labeling a product that

contains GMO has no effect or outcome of the decision making of the consumer. The label is

there for people that are concerned about genetically modified organisms and plants.
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Furthermore, there are problems arising from the overflow of genetically modified organisms

and plants. There are not enough regulation rules and people to monitor the interactions between

GMO products and humans. There should be more workers employed to closely monitor and

regulate the productions of genetically modified organisms and plants. Production lines of GMO

products should have a human monitor rather than a robotic monitor or machinery. Each

genetically modified organism or GM foods should be carefully inspected and tested before sent

off for human and animal consumption. The FDA and other related food monitoring agencies

should require extensive and detailed research to make sure the genetically modified organisms

and plants are safe for human and animal consumption as well as not harmful to the

environment. In additions, to ensure maximum quality and assurance, there should be an agency

dedicated to monitoring and the regulating of genetically modified foods, organisms, and

transgenic plants. Currently the FDA and other related food monitoring agencies are in charge of

this process; however, GMOs require massive amounts of attention because there are more and

more GMOs being created and manufactured every day.

In Conclusion, in order to make genetically modified organisms and plants more efficient

and effective there need to be changes made to certain aspects of GMOs. Changes should be

made to the environment, the effects on humans, the mass production and agriculture industries,

and food labeling agencies. The mass production and agriculture industries should create more

isolated areas and more security to monitor the process. Furthermore, the environment can be

saved if the pollution caused by GMO is properly disposed of. Genetically modified organisms

and plants can benefit mankind and pave way for new technologies and innovations. However, if

left unchecked, GMOs and GM foods can be hazardous to the Earth and its inhabitants.
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Genetically modified organisms and plants could be beneficial to mankind as long as the

solutions mentioned above is followed and monitored.

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Annotated Bibliography: The GMO Facts

Levin, Robert E. "Recent Developments in Molecular Detection of Food-Borne Disease Bacteria

and Gmos." Food Biotechnology, vol. 29, no. 3, July 2015, pp. 69-116. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1080/08905436.2014.996896.
Levin uses visual images and scientific data to show the results and information.

In addition, the backs up his claims and supports the main idea that food-borne diseases

come from genetically modified organisms. He explains in detail and step-by-step

explanations on how the processes work and how each component works in detailed

sections. He then talks about the experiments and how to set up the tests that he used to

conduct the experiments. He firsts talks about molecules, then about food, and finally

about how GMOs fit in between the two and the connection to food-borne diseases.
Toft, Kristian. "Gmos and Global Justice: Applying Global Justice Theory to the Case of

Genetically Modified Crops and Food." Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics,

vol. 25, no. 2, Apr. 2012, pp. 223-237. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s10806-010-9295-x.

Toft starts off by explaining the situation of GMOs and how countries view it. The

author then goes into the details of the Global Justice Theory and how it can be applied to

GMOs. He then states points from both sides of the argument and give supporting claims

for each of them. He just analyzes the information without choosing a side. Furthermore,

he just makes a hypothesis about GMOs if it were to be applied to the Global justice

theory.
Sax, Joanna K. and Neal Doran. "Food Labeling and Consumer Associations with Health, Safety,

and Environment." Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, vol. 44, no. 4, Winter2016, pp.

630-638. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/1073110516684805.

Sax and Doran wanted to prove how GMO and food labeling can affect peoples

choices and the health decisions. They devised a test to collect data about food labels and

found that the test results have a direct correlation with GMOs. They discuss about the
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results and show graphical data that is easy to comprehend and read. They conclude that

their test was too specific and there were too many variables to gain an exact

measurement.
"Gmos: A Solution or a Problem?." Journal of International Affairs, vol. 67, no. 2,

Spring/Summer2014, pp. 131-139. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=bft&AN=95804641&site=ehost-live.
The article is based around an interview that pits Mark Lynas and Colin Tudge

against each other over the topic of GMOs. Lynas is against GMO but can see the appeal

for it and Tudge is for GMO usage. They each present facts about GMO and the effects of

it on the world. There are positives as well as negatives that are shown by both sides.
Hemphill, Thomas A. and Syagnik Banerjee. "Genetically Modified Organisms and the U. S.

Retail Food Labeling Controversy: Consumer Perceptions, Regulation, and Public

Policy." Business & Society Review (00453609), vol. 120, no. 3, Sept. 2015, pp. 435-

464. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/basr.12062.

The article starts out by explaining the laws of food labeling and hoe GMOs fit

into it all. Furthermore, the authors go into detail about the benefits and negatives to

GMO food labeling in the United States. The next section is about the regulation system

put in place and how each division plays a bigger role in the industry. The last section is

about how consumers view GMOs and their perspective on GMO food labeling.
Aleksejeva, Inese and Inesa Aleksejeva. "Genetically Modified Organisms: Risk Perception and

Willingness to Buy Gm Products." ["GENETIKAI MODIFIKUOTI ORGANIZMAI:

RIZIKOS SUVOKIMAS IR NUSITEIKIMAS PIRKTI GM PRODUKTUS"].

Management Theory & Studies for Rural Business & Infrastructure Development, vol.

33, no. 4, Dec. 2012, pp. 5-10. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=bth&AN=82196113&site=ehost-live.
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Aleksejeva is using data from all over world to conduct an experiment on whether

a person was less likely to buy a product if they knew it was a GMO product. The results

show that in the United states, U.S citizens are less likely to buy GMO foods than other

countries. Also, the author explains different perspectives of different people that have

different opinions on GMO. In addition, other people in other countries are more likely to

buy GMO foods.