Global food insecurity is undoubtedly one of the core problems of humanity today. According to the United Nations, nearly about 690 million people across the world suffered from hunger in 2019. Also, at the same time, the average global population is growing fast and is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. This increasing population must be fed sustainably, which is a significant challenge. Genetic engineering has produced genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with beneficial properties such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, and better nutrition. Several supporters hold that GMOs can, amongst others, contribute to solving food insecurity through high yields, low agricultural inputs-costs, and promotion of nutrient levels in staple crops. In addition, GMOS are rejected by some sceptics who are worried about the possible environmental and human health consequences. GMOs should be embraced as an answer to food insecurity around the globe because they can raise crop yields, improve nutritional values, and reduce inputs from the agricultural sector to grow the population sustainably.
Increased Crop Yield
GMOs have proved to be a valuable tool in overcoming the problem of low crop productivity, especially when the sustainable agricultural system is threatened by harsh weather and pests. In developing genetically modified crops, an insect-resistant gene has acquired much of the attention of other genes modified to enable the crops to fight off pests and avoid yield losses. Through this piece, Kavhiza et al. (2022) explain the importance of agroecology, which they argue is relevant mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where higher agricultural productivity is the key element in food security. In GM plants, the genes responsible for resistance to many pests may be introduced, while this is a proactive approach that represents a partial solution to the problem of crop losses and enhancing yield.
Some resistances demonstrated across regions have shown that genetic engineering can be a great option, as it gives the expected results. According to Mateos Fernández et al. (2021), insect-resistant crops showing resistance to a wide range of pests were developed to solve the problem of pests. There are instances where breeders genetically modified their crops to make them incorporate proteins such as Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins that have brought forth their role in the management of pests and reduction of the chemicals used in pesticides. Similarly, crops with herbicide tolerance, such as glyphosate-resistant soybeans, can control the weed problem much better than the usual cases that were common in the past. This ultimately leads to an increased yield per hectare.
Pest-resistance GMO crops answer the problem of considerable crop loss throughout varied agricultural plots. These crops have a high yield compared to those traditional crops susceptible to pests. The boosting of the disease resistance of plants creates a prerequisite for agricultural production. This, in effect, lowers the dependence on the costly and harmful chemicals which, in vain, are used to either kill or ward off pests. Thus, the plant yields are minimally constrained by pests. However, the equivalent production increase is also caused by GM methods, allowing for more stable production and predictable yields since they offer continuous pest protection. Such resistance is highly relevant to regions that typically face unforeseeable climatic changes and increased susceptibility to pests, making ordinary farming practices ineffective regarding stable yields.
Enhanced Nutritional Value
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including enhancement of the plants that contribute to higher nutritional content, are the way to fight malnutrition with biofortification. The integration of biofortification in gene upgrading showed that it was a lasting and constructive way to help in the surmounting of specific nutrient deficiencies such as the deficiency of vitamin A. GMOs have been used as a tool for adding nutritional value to crops compared to their traditional bred cousins and they serve as a feasible strategy for addressing nutritional deficiencies. Illustrative examples include orange bio-fortified corn that can increase xanthophyll content, which may enrich the quality of poultry diets and elevate macular carotenoid contents in egg yolks—that way, it addresses certain nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, GMO technological advancements point to greater food micronutrient uptake and a feasible and nutrition-based healthcare intervention slated for sustainable agriculture through the improved nutritional value GMOD crops possess.
A very important part of genetically modified organisms is their improved nutritional value, which happens through genetic modification of the codes and proteins. Through synthetic biology and genetic engineering, cereal crops’ genetic makeup has been transformed to utilize nutrients efficiently and are tolerant to stressors such as drought and high salt content in the soil. Such technological advancements have innovatively contributed to developing GMOs with improved nutritional content. Furthermore, GMOs have also been connected to higher levels of nutrient uptake, drought resistance and improved signalling, which features them as a source for optimal nutrient absorption and utilization through which some malnutrition-related diseases can be addressed. Similarly, the current study provides possibilities for creating more complex GMO lines with a higher ability to uptake CO2 using enhanced stomatal conductance and deeper root systems alongside a highly increased uptake of nitrate, which will surely contribute to the bio-fortification of these GMOs.
Improving micronutrient content in staple crops using GMOs is one of the most fundamental and significant applications. For example, scientists have successfully developed genetically mutated rice varieties enriched with beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A. They usually refer to this one, so-called “Golden Rice,” as an effort to fight against vitamin A deficiency, a common problem in rice-eating regions and worldwide. With biological technology, Golden Rice becomes an optional and socially acceptable tool for the budgeted and scaled-up intervention to alleviate the prevalence of night blindness and vulnerability to immune system deficiencies among the population.
Another feature of GMOs is their ability to fight malnutrition, including various minerals and vitamins among those more vulnerable. In his research, Hirschi (2020) emphasizes the various applications of genetically modified [GM] crops in solving the scourge of iron deficiency, a common nutritional problem affecting many worldwide. Therefore, the biofortification of staple crops like those rich in iron is an environment-friendly way to improve iron intake and prevent the growing problem of anaemia (particularly in resource-limited settings). This is apparent in situations where diverse sources of iron are not easily available.
Another benefit of GMOs in nutrition is that in addition to a particular nutrient filling, they also add a variety of important micronutrients to food. Researchers can utilize genetic engineering and technologies to alter crops’ composition to be a superfood, including using the full range of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and bioactive compounds. The whole-based strategy of nutrient enhancement encompasses not only some deficiencies but also paves the way for a healthier and more balanced diet by adding much more diverse and nutritious food.
Reduced Agricultural input
GMOs have been shown to decrease reliance on chemical pesticides by implementing genetically engineered (GE) crops. Research has indicated that GMO technologies result in net reductions in pesticide use, encompassing changes in herbicide and insecticide kilograms/pounds applied. This reduction in pesticide use is attributed to the development of GE crops that confer pesticide resistance to plants, thereby allowing farmers to decrease pesticide application greatly (Awasthi et al., 2023). In addition, GE plants can produce toxins highly specific to insect enemies, which helps decrease the application of broad-spectrum chemical pesticides. Thus, the result supports the idea that GMOs save pesticides to a great extent by lowering total pesticide use in the agricultural industry.
Furthermore, GMOs help lower chemical pesticide dependence, decrease the use of synthetic fertilizers, and solve the problem of soil erosion and nutrient runoff. In the case of GMO technologies, the results of studies have shown that they reduce the amount of pesticides and agrochemicals applied in agriculture (Matytsin et al., 2021). Besides, GMOs are further used to remediate laboratory-scale polluted soils by indicating their future application for soils polluted by contaminants. Further, it has been confirmed that GMOs can achieve oxidative degradation of various xenobiotics and hence have the potential to be used in the bioremediation of wastes from different environmental sources (Ebah et al., 2022). The data demonstrates that GMOs eliminate the necessity of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and have a promising potential to amend soil health restoration and tackle contaminated sites.
Furthermore, GMOs contribute to curbing soil degradation, commonly called the immense erosion of the topsoil and the nutrient runoff on surface water and groundwater, undermining soil conservation and soil. In addition, GMO technology implements genes found in crop wild relatives, a progeny of intricate traits and chance species, to generate these friendly crops (Bohra et al., 2022). GM technology aims to steady our food supply and reduce nutrient runoff into agricultural lands by using genes to tolerate these threats, such as drought and soil deterioration. The genes from the crowd of genetically engineered plants can be selected, and they can be used to encourage the number of soil microorganisms and the development of organic matter, as a result of which the soil structure and water retention, as well as the nutrient cycling in the soil, become higher.
Through GMOs, chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers will be denied. As a result, the chemical-free pathways will be sought as an alternative to the already existing agriculture-intensified options. This is the major risk of the transition from a farm based on non-renewable resources to a more ecological and resource-conserving model, which is taking place in the light of emerging issues like rising temperatures, devaluation and shortage of soils. Nevertheless, using GMO seeds helps farmers work through more productive and durable methods to preserve the same environment they need to sow their crops.
Counterarguments and Rebuttals
The opponents of GMOs frequently voice arguments concerning possible negative ecological effects associated with this technology. Complaints sometimes arise regarding the emergence of pest-resistant pests, which may bring about superbugs that regular pest control methods cannot subdue. Nonetheless, research has proved that genetically modified crops that are pest-resistant have demonstrated reduced use of pesticides, therefore lowering the extent of pesticide contamination and lessening environmental risks. Next, GMOs have been good for sustainable land management, such as no-till farming and soil erosion protection, which go hand in hand with soil health and resilient ecosystems.
Another issue raised by opponents of GMOs is that GMO foods could cause health-related problems when consumed by humans. Other concerns come to some people with the thoughts of allergies, antibiotic resistance, and the effects that might be with us in the long term. On the other hand, the numerous scientific investigations and subsequent regulatory appraisals confirm that GMOs have not threatened human safety. For instance, different organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in the USA have found that eating GMOs has no risk compared to the traditional line of crops (Ebah et al., 2022). Similarly, regulatory bodies like the Food and Drug Administration in the USA and the European Food Safety Authority assess GMO prospects on safety grounds before being approved for commercialization.
Critics point to the socio-economic implications of GMO adoption as an additional issue, focusing on seed companies’ control, farmers’ dependency on seed companies, and traditional agricultural practices’ displacement. However, incitement could have problematic issues for smallholder farmers in developing countries; human beings should be aware that genetically modified organisms also have many benefits they can give (Sanmugam et al., 2021). GMOs may positively impact farmers’ lives, food crop outputs, and food-hungry societies wherever a production locality is specifically affected by pest-borne diseases and bad environmental conditions. Beyond this, many GMOs are developed by public research institutions and sold to farmers on the condition of royalty-free or subsidized licenses to have wider farmers’ communities employ these technologies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the application of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be seen as one of the best solutions to tackle the issue of worldwide food insecurity by helping to multiply crop yields, improving the nutritional quality of foods, and using this solution friendly with the sustainability of agriculture. With genetic engineering, GMOs have proven to produce resilient crops against pest attacks and severe weather conditions, which is an opportunity for high-yield production and saving on chemicals, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Moreover, they have played a pivotal role in combatting nutritional deficiency by developing staple crops amended with nutrients, alleviating malnutrition that negatively affects public health. Nevertheless, opponents object to the likely repercussions on the environment and human health. On the other hand, ex-research, scientific research and regulatory assessments continually support the safety and efficiency of genetically modified organisms. Therefore, bearing these advancements in genetic modification (GMO) technology is a key step towards realizing food security for future generations.
References
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Awasthi, S., Devesh Vishwakarma, Deepa Kannaujiya, & None Shikha. (2023). Socio-economic and Ecological Values of Sustainable Alternatives to Pesticides. Sustainable Development and Biodiversity, 355–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3439-3_13
Bohra, A., Kilian, B., Sivasankar, S., Caccamo, M., Mba, C., McCouch, S. R., & Varshney, R. K. (2022). Reap the crop’s wild relatives to breed future crops. Trends in Biotechnology, 40(4), 412–431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2021.08.009
Ebah, E., Yange, I., Ohie, I., & Inya, O. (2022). Application of Genetically Modified Organisms in Waste Management – A Review. Stamford Journal of Microbiology, 12(1), 15–20. https://doi.org/10.3329/sjm.v12i1.63338
Hirschi, K. D. (2020). Genetically Modified Plants: Nutritious, Sustainable, yet Underrated. The Journal of Nutrition, 150(10), 2628–2634. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxaa220
Kavhiza, N. J., Zargar, M., Prikhodko, S. I., Pakina, E. N., Murtazova, K. M.-S., & Nakhaev, M. R. (2022). We are improving Crop Productivity and Ensuring Food Security by adopting Genetically Modified Crops in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agronomy, 12(2), 439. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12020439
Mateos Fernández, R., Petek, M., Gerasymenko, I., Juteršek, M., Baebler, Š., Kallam, K., Moreno Giménez, E., Gondolf, J., Nordmann, A., Gruden, K., Orzaez, D., & Patron, N. J. (2021). Insect pest management in the age of synthetic biology. Plant Biotechnology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13685
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Shaheen, N., Muhammad Shahzaib, Uzair Muhammad Khan, Hafiz Mamoon Rehman, Rana Muhammad Atif, Muhammad Tehseen Azhar, Azeem Iqbal Khan, & Iqrar Ahmad Rana. (2024). Genetically modified organisms for crop biofortification. Elsevier EBooks, 19–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-323-91735-3.00002-9
Reflection Questions
- In the paper, rhetorical appeals are expropriated to build an argument for using GMOs to solve global food insecurity. For instance, introducing reliable statements from scientific studies and assessment regulatory bodies helps the essay avoid being based on emotions and persuade the reader as much as possible. Furthermore, a key aspect of this argument is that it is sustained by the presentation of statistics and data on yield increases and nutritional improvement, which logically supports the argument and facilitates its effectiveness.
- Reviewing the essay under revision in Touchstone 4 will help me understand where my arguments could be clearer and flow better. The problem is that there needs to be more clarity about the smooth transition of the counterarguments and rebuttals or how well the transitions are made between individual sections. In addition, feedback on editing language and establishing uniformity in referencing and citation style guidelines would help improve the draft.
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