Jing An
Food Operation
---- What are you putting in your body?
According to the Agriculture Department in the United States, every American ate an average of 130 ponds sugars during the last whole year. Half of them came from white sugars, and 95% sugar beets - the main resource of white sugar - are genetically modified. Based on calculating these data, every American ate around 90 pounds of sugar from genetically modified crops last year.
Furthermore, around half of the total 45 pounds of oil that each American eats every year is made from genetically modified corn and soybean. (Wangyi)
All these startling statistics are gathered from every one of us. This “genetically modified” production seems link heavily with our daily life. So, what exactly are you putting in your body?
Genetically modified means that people use genetic engineering to make specific changes in DNA. Compared with normal agriculture, genetically modified crops have better qualities: higher output, lower cost, stronger pest-resistant, and longer storage time.
Recent years, the production acreage of genetically modified crops developed from 1.7 million hectares to 175 million hectares over the world, which makes it the rapidest development of agriculture technology.
The main reason behind this considerable data is the trust and confidence from farmers.
The genetically modified technology brings a lot benefits to farmers. According to the economic data from 1996 to 2012, the total benefit developed countries get is 5.9 billion dollars and the total benefit developing countries get is 5.79 billion dollars from growing genetically modified crops. Furthermore, because the total usage of pesticide reduced by more than a half, farmers’ life quality improved a lot. (Clive James)
While genetically modified technology becomes more and more popular, a lot of negative news pops up.
English scientist Dr. Arpad Pusztai has found that the mouse’s visceral nervous system and immune system have been hurt after eating genetically modified tomatoes. Furthermore, some genetically modified crops cannot breed. Just like the mule, it has the advantages from both the horse and donkey, but it cannot reproduce. Besides, plenty of pollen from large fields of genetically modified crops spread to organic crops might lead to the variation, and finally result in no organic crops at all.
Most experts are waiting and seeing about the safety of genetically modified food.
Ning Lu is a doctor in Shandong People’s Hospital. She thinks it is still early to say whether the genetically modified food is safe or not safe at all.
“This is a hot topic now. I think we need some more time to inspect it.” Lu said.
“Some people say that genetically modified technology is changing the original structure of crops, so the risk of having disease will increase.” Lu said. “But, it also changes the gene in a good way, like the Golden Rice.”
Golden Rice has been reported as one of the greatest inventions during this century. Syngenta, which is the biggest plant protection company in the world, designs it. It is named golden because the color of it is yellow, which is the color of the carotene they put in the gene of rice. There are around 1 million children become blind because the lack of carotene. The birth of Golden Rice is definitely a gift to them. (Yan)
“It is hard to predict the future of genetically modified food,” Lu said. “Like some disease, the danger may hide behind for a long time.”
At the end, Lu talked about her conjecture.
“However, “ Lu added. “Human’s genes are actually changing, and this changing is still happening in our bodies. We are continually evolving, so maybe plants can do this also.”
Another major experts have confidence about the genetically modified food.
Al Mikell is a biology professor at Oklahoma Christian University. His attitude towards genetically modified food is not that harsh.
“I look at the quality of the food and price,” Mikell said.
Mikell emphasized the intention of genetically modified foods. He believes if the intention is good, genetically modified food will be wonderful for society.
“The intention of genetically modified foods needs to provide a higher quality food at a lower price, not just the cheaper food,” Mikell said. “That is where capitalism has a problem, especially for dealing with people who may be uneducated. They are not going to be choosing to pay more for healthier food. They are looking for food to eat. Half of the world is hungry. If we can give them better nutrition, their health could be better. If people are healthier and have a higher quality of life, that is good for our society, not just for those people.”
The only thing Mikell concerns is the diversity of plants. To deal with the diversity problem, he suggested the government should take the responsibility.
“It is very important that we maintain the diversity of plant products,” Mikell said. “Once again, the government needs to be smart, they need to be part of the process. Someone needs to be preserved that diversity somewhere. We need to make sure that people understand there is value in keeping genetic diversity somewhere incase we have problems that we can go back to those genes.”
For the students in Oklahoma Christian, their opinions about genetically modified foods are more direct and simple.
“While I choosing vegetables, I prefer genetically modified foods, because they look more delicious and healthier.” senior Yingying Li said.
“Maybe all the food in our cafeteria are genetically modified,” sophomore Huaying Zhang smiles. “I am okay with that.”
“I think the government should provide more support to let the scientists do research and improve the skills,” senior Yu Liu claimed. “Also because the government is the community most people believe, if the government can give more claim about genetically modified foods, things will be much easier.”
“I understand there might be some problems with genetically modified foods now,” junior Angus Chan said. “But I believe it is just a matter of time.”
Accompanied with high development of the technology, it is not only influencing our lifestyles any more. Its tentacles start to extend to our diet now. Our food is lying in the operating room, and WE are the one who pay the bill no matter what the result might be.
Sources:
Wangyi, “The research about Genetically Modified Food”, Dec. 25 2013
http://news.163.com/13/1225/00/9GTCB93A0001121M_all.html#p=94PHP59I4T8F0001
Clive James, “Around Word Biology Technology”, China Biotechnology, 2014, 34 (1): 1-8
Yan Jianbing, “The Golden Rice”, Sep. 4 2012
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_4abe58910102ecsr.html