Genetically Modified Foods Do More Good Than Harm
PRO (5 arguments)
When weighing on lives: First, a billion people have been saved from starvation by GMOs - this is a fact, not hypothetical, like the CON case. You can vote Affirmative here because GMOs have already saved a billion people, easily outweighing any potential Negative harm of the environment or ecosystem. Second, GMOs cut food prices by up to 30%, which is really important because the UN World Bank reported in 2011 that high food prices are the main cause of poverty.
When weighing on economy: Remember that Professor Klumper found that GMOs increased farmers profits by 68%, because of the massive increase in crop yields. This allows farmers, who comprise the majority of economic activity in the developing world, to become a larger part of the economy benefitting everyone.
When weighing on environment: First, according to Professor Klumper, GMOs decreased pesticide usage by 37%, because farmers no longer need to buy so much of it. Second, PG Economics study found that the environmental footprint of pesticides were reduced by 18.1% with GMOs, or equivalent to 10.2 million cars being taken off the road!)
The possible benefits from GMO food are enormous. Modifications which render plants less vulnerable from pests lead to less pesticide use, which is better for the environment. Other modifications lead to higher crop yield, which leads to lower food prices for all. However, This technology really comes into its own in developing countries. Here where water is at a shortage, modifications (which lead crops to needing less water), are of vital importance.
The World Health Organization predicts that vitamin A deficiency, with the use of GMOs, could be wiped out rapidly in the modern world. The scientists developed the strain of rice, called “golden rice”, which produces more beta-carotene and this way produces 20 times more vitamins than other strains, creating a cure for childhood blindness in developing countries. By being able to have genetically modified rice, this project is able to save 500,000 children from being blind and prevent 2 million deaths caused by vitamin-A deficiency in third world countries every year. Judge, the earliest GMO crops have already saved an enormous amount of lives. A 2013 report filed by the U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee found that from 1960-2000, GMO crops increased food production by over 200% in developing countries, from 800 million tons to 2.2 billion tons of food. In the 40 years since their introduction, the report estimates that GMO foods have “saved one billion from famine [and] halved the global percentage of undernourished people.” That is by far the biggest impact in the round, because it is not theoretical. GMOs have already saved one billion people from dying, making it a clear benefit.
World Health Organization
Because GM crops increase yields so greatly, farmers are able to sell more of their crops, thus increasing overall profits. This is really important, because the majority of the third world depends on local farmers to provide for their economies.
A German study conducted by Wilhelm Klumper concluded that, “On average, GMO technology adoption has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37%, increased crop yields by 22%, and increased farmers’ profits by 68%.” This increase in farmer’s profits is very beneficial, as it allows farmers to sell more crops for a cheaper price. According to a 2013 report by the Agricultural Economics Association, GMO crops have already reduced global food prices by 15-30%.
This directly leads to reduced poverty, as according to a 2011 report by the U.N. World Bank, food prices have the “largest direct impact on poverty” since food expenditures comprise 80% of families’ budgets in the developing world. The World Bank also reports that lowering food prices can lead to a 4.6% reduction in the global poverty rate. Thus, GMO crops cut global food prices by 30%, which helps to reduce global poverty by 4.6%.
The temperature of the earth is rising. As this continues, foods that grow now will not be acclimatized to the hotter conditions. Evolution takes many years and we simply do not have the time to starve while we wait for this to occur. While there may be a vast supply of food now, we need to look to the future and how our current crops will withstand our changing environment.
In 2007 Monsanto modified GMO crops and got them to grow is drought conditions in South Africa, preventing starvation. In other countries, this would also mean that foods could be cultured where organic foods would not be able to. This would mean those in third world countries could grow their own crops on their low nutrient content soil. This has the additional benefit of not impacting the environment as no transport would be needed to take the food to the places where it is needed; this would have to occur with organic foods grown in areas of good soil and weather conditions. Additionally, by farming GMO products, farmers reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses released because GMOs do not need as much plowing and tillage.
Because most GM crops are already pest resistant, farmers do not need to spray as much pesticides or herbicides on their crops. This both allows farmers to save money and the environment at the same time.
A 16-year global study of GMO foods by PG Economics found that the use of GMO crops reduced global pesticide use by over 9% of total usage. This reduction in pesticide is very important because the same study found that GMO crops reduce the environmental footprint of pesticides by 18.1%. This led to a decrease in CO2 emissions equivalent to taking 10.2 million cars off the road. Aside from preserving the environment through less pesticide usage, GMO crops also have reduced the amount of land needed for farming. According to the International Association of the Agri-Biotech Applications, between 1996-2011, GMO crops have saved over 108 million hectares of tropical forests and fragile land worldwide from being developed. Furthermore, according to Charles Conner, President of the National Council of Farmers Cooperatives, land use efficiency has increased by 37%, over the last 20 years as a result of GMO crops. On top of that, Conner also found that GMO crops save resources. In his study, he quantified that it takes 37% less energy and 25% less water to produce a bushel of GMO corn compared to conventional crops.
National Council of Farmers Cooperatives
Genetically modified food needs to be rigorously tested before handed out to the public.
According to biotechnology expert, Josh Arnold Ph.D., “GM Food products must be rigorously tested before they can be sold-far more than conventional products. The testing process can take 7-10 years , and must include evaluations of potential risks to humans and livestock as well as potential risks to wildlife and the environment.” Testing includes nutritional and protein analysis so researchers can identify new proteins added that may cause allergic reactions. A large study of 1,700 reviewed studies found no evidence that GMO products negatively affect humans or livestock. A recent study of 29 years of livestock health and productivity statistics (looking at the data both before and after GMO products were implemented) covering more than one billion animals came to the conclusion that Genetically modified food is equally as safe and nutritious as non genetically modified food.
World Health organization, the American Medical Association, and the British Royal Society