GMO Argument Essay

--Title-- Up to 80% of our processed foods are genetically modified, but the majority of the American public still does not know what this means. GM crops are crops whose DNA has been merged with another species, most commonly through gene splicing. These crops are currently challenging scientists to think environmentally, ethically, and economically. The American public still faces questions. Do GMOs support our environment, economy, or ethics? Are they safe to eat? There are several answers that are proposed in favor of GMOs; ecologists from Southampton, Beijing, and Rothamsted reason that these genetically modified plants can decrease the need for pesticides, which leads to many beneficial effects on the environment, plant biotechnologists lead by Dr. Swapan Datta argue with opposers that GMOs can ethically save millions of children from vitamin A deficiency, researches featured in an article by Sharyn Horowitz and Nina Fedoroff explains that the Obama Administration goes against the European Union’s claims of GMO safety. Because of decreased pesticide usage, the environment, sources claim, is …show more content…
Rice, a staple food to over 3 million people, has been genetically modified to carry extra vitamin A, and they call this GM rice ‘Golden Rice’. Vitamin A deficiency has become problematic, causing “250,000 to 500,000 children to go blind each year” (Lomborg 2), half on these children during within a year. Golden rice has been shown to better provide vitamin A to children than spinach. “Just 50 grams (roughly two ounces) of golden rice can provide 60 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A,” (Lomborg 2). Furthermore, reduced pesticides because of GM crops has decreased the number of farmers given rashes by the chemical bug sprays. GMOs are being used to help the