Benefits Of GM Food To Combat Starvation In The Third World Countries
With genetic engineering, genetically modified foods (GM foods) are produced by inserting new genes into an organism’s original DNA. This can improve the quality and quantity of food. It has therefore been suggested to solve the problem of famine in the Third World, which concerns less developed countries such as Kenya and India. They have a low gross domestic product (GDP) and an unstable political environment. The fatal problem facing people in those countries is hunger. Therefore, GM food is introduced to combat starvation in those countries and its benefits will be discussed in this essay. First the benefit of its nutrients will be illustrated and then its benefits in the food supply will also be illustrated and finally, the benefits of the environmental effect for agriculture will be illustrated.
First, GM foods can provide a large number of nutrients in a small amount of food. GM foods are designed to increase nutrient content and are considered one of its benefits. Normally, humans have to eat several foods to absorb a wide variety of essential nutrients such as vitamins and proteins. However, one type of food can provide more nutrients after using genetic modification technology. Golden rice is one of the examples in which vitamin A is richer than normal rice. GM foods solve the problem of ingesting a lack of nutrients and improving human health. Crops can be grown effectively, which reduces the growth and waste of too much food. It can save food and deal with hunger.
In addition, genetically modified foods can help overcome climatic constraints and increase food availability. The environmental condition in third world countries is harsh since they may experience droughts such as the Sahel region and Ethiopia. The climatic condition entails the problem of famine. To overcome the situation, a drought-resistant gene can be added to different plants by genetic engineering. Less irrigation water is required. It not only increases the possibility of agricultural activities in these regions but also helps them achieve self-reliance through plant cultivation. It has been estimated that the economic gains of GM crops are USD133.4 billion during the period from 1996 to 2013. People in third world countries can make a profit from GM food crops. This is because GM foods can reduce the possibility of crop failure by adding pest-resistance genes, as well as increasing the number of crops. Earnings can be used for imported food. It can meet the demand for a continuous population increase by increasing food supply that can be used to fight famine.
Finally, the cultivation of GM crops has reduced the pollution of land and water, thereby increasing the food supply and thus benefiting agriculture. Farmers have adopted GM crops for several reasons, including easier and better weed control, higher seed yield and higher financial gains and gains. Since pests and weeds can be controlled by inserting specific genes into the plant, the use of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides is reduced. It provides clean water for irrigation and the soil will not be contaminated. The harvests produced will be healthier. Agricultural activities will be favored if the environmental condition becomes better which food supply will also increase.
In conclusion, GM food brings several advantages that facilitate the resolution of starvation in third world countries. It reduces the amount of food needed to get adequate nutrition. In addition, the food supply increases as genetically modified foods reduce the chances of crop loss. Also, improving the environment caused by GM foods promotes farming activities. The problem of starvation in third world countries can be solved by increasing the food supply. Food shortages must be addressed as the problem will get worse in the future.
