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Disadvantages & Advantages of Genetically modified food crops

Genetically modified food (GM) crops

Potential health risks

Growing concern that incorporating foreign genes into plants may have adverse effect on human health,such as allergic reactions.

Dominance of agribusinesses

Genetically modified crops are expensive as a lot of research and time have been put into them. Hence, they require high capital investment,which is only affordable to big companies and DC s. Small scale farmers and LDC s cannot afford the seeds due to the high price. This will widen gap between wealthy and poor farmers.

Dangerous to some insects. This is because the new genes of the crops can be deadly to certain insects like butterflies that are not actually dangerous to crops.

Do not taste as good as naturally produced crops.

Decreased Environmental Pollution

Genetically modified crops reduce dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which may potentially pollute the environment

Increased income for farmers

More nourishing to the body

Certain crops have been developed to have higher nutritional value. E.g. Golden Rice has been developed to have higher values of Vitamin A which can prevent blindness in LDCs

Resistant to extreme weather conditions

High-Yielding Variety (HYV) crops

Disadvantages

Absence of genetic variation causes pests and plant diseases to spread quickly and easily

Lacks an important plant defense mechanism against predatory animals or fungi and as a result are more prone to pests and diseases

Advantages

Suitable for mechanical crop care and processing

Resistant to pests and diseases

Shorter growing season