Genetically modified food
GM foods is good for us or bad for us?
What’s GM food?
 Genetically modified foods
(GM foods or GMO foods) are
foods resulting from GMOs.
Genetically modified organisms
have
had
specific
changes
introduced into their DNA by
genetic engineering techniques.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
What is the need of GM food?
The world population is more than 6 billion
people and is predicted to double in the next
50 years. Making sure we have an enough
food supply for this booming population is
going to be a big challenge in the years to
come. GM foods promise to meet this needs
in a number of ways.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
Other advantages of GM food
 Disease resistance There are many viruses, fungus and
bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plant biologists are working
to create plants with genetically-engineered resistance to these
diseases.
 Nutrition Malnutrition is common in under developed
countries where peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for
the main food of their diet. However, rice does not contain
enough amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent
malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain
additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could
be eliminated.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
Criticism to GM foods
 Environmental activists, religious organizations,
public interest groups, professional associations and
other scientists and government officials have all
raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized
business for pursuing profit without concern for
potential hazards, and the government for failing to
exercise enough deplane oversight. It seems that
everyone has a strong opinion about GM foods. Even
the Most concerns about GM foods fall into three
categories: environmental hazards, human health
risks, and economic concerns.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
Criticism to GM foods…
 Reduced effectiveness of pesticides Just as some
populations of mosquitoes developed resistance to the
now-banned pesticide DDT, many people are
concerned that insects will become resistant to B.t. or
other crops that have been genetically-modified to
produce their own pesticides.
 Unknown effects on human health There is a
growing concern that introducing foreign genes into
food plants may have an unexpected and negative
impact on human health.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
Public opinion on Gm food
 Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of
the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help
protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and
reducing dependence upon chemical pesticides. Yet there are
many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the
areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food
labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the
unstoppable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to
ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits.
However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing
unintended harm to human health and the environment as a
result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)
My opinion on GM food
 GM food is good but I think it’s way too risky .The
food might mutate too much and will may cause
world wide threat.
 References:
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_fo
od
 http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overvi
ew.php
Sarthak Sharma (7BB)