Genetically Altering Plants and Animals, Is It Safe for America

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This type of rice could be useful in climates with higher temperatures, which increase methane emissions from paddies, considering that methane emissions are synonymous with of heat. Also, research has shown that this particular GE food could potentially reduce a whole host of illnesses associated with low beta-carotene intake in developing nations. (Ramez, n.d.)

Also, rest assured there is no consensus on the safety of GE foods, and there are many reasons to be more concerned in 2015 than we were in 1996 the year that GE technology was first introduced. By 2050, farmers must produce 40% more food to feed the expected population growth. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN estimate that we need to grow 70 percent more food by 2050. We only have a few alternatives to meet this growing demand. There are many more questions about genetically modified food that can only be answered by time, research and experience.

The National Geographic did a series last year called “The Future of Food” it was a capstone plan to meet the demand of nine billion people with shrinking resources. (Washington, 38.90531943278526, & 800-647-5463, n.d.) Jonathan Foley, an academic from the University of Minnesota, wrote an article called the “Five Step Plan to Feed the World.” In the article Foley stated that we can first do better utilizing the same land, we have today, or we could tear down more forest to create new farms, which is something no one wants to do. Let's not tear down any more tropical rain forest and leave most of the wildlands wild.

Secondly, we can reduce the global meat consumption. Jon Foley states that it is meat consumption, not the population that is driving the world food demand and that if we want to address the soaring food consumption, we should reduce the meat consumption in the world. For example, it takes approximately 57 calories of energy to produce one calorie of meat a ratio of 40:1 (STRATEGY, n.d.)

Thirdly, we can close the gap between farms in poor and rich countries. The US grows twice as much as the world overall, in most part we have access to more resources than other countries. As poverty decrease throughout the world, this gap will shrink.

Fourth, we can use inputs more strategically. Most of the agricultural inputs that farmers use today are petroleum based as the price of energy goes up their cost go up and perhaps their availability will come into question. So obviously, we have to petroleum based and water based resources more efficiently.

Lastly, we can reduce waste one-third of the food produced on farms is thrown away or eaten by pests. Eliminating waste could increase food available for consumption another 50 percent. Jon Foley and his colleagues state to keep up with their projected demand increase of 100% by 2050 the key will be a combination of economic development and continued research.

References

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http://doi.org/10.1038/nature10452

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Ramez, N. (n.d.). Why GMOs matter — especially for the developing world | Grist. Retrieved November 13, 2015,

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Washington, N. G. S. P. O. B. 98199, 38.90531943278526, D. 20090-8199 U., & 800-647-5463, -77 0376992225647. (n.d.). National Geographic Future of Food Series. Retrieved Nov 13, 2015,

from http://food.nationalgeographic.com