Herbicide
Crop management is a vigorous activity that
changes as technologies are
developed. Now that were in the new millennium,
we are finding new and enhanced
ways to improve things that effect us in our
everyday lives like, industrial
pollution, car pollution, waste management,
and also the advancement in
herbicide-tolerant crops. Much advancement have
been taking place to make our
crops better and safer to eat without damaging
crops from herbicides, a chemical
that destroys grass and weeds. This
technology has opened a door in the genetic
planting of crops all over the
U.S. Companies are creating new ways to grow
crops without the weeds that
seem to be carrying chemicals that are affecting
crops like, corn, potatoes,
and soybeans. There is controversy with genetically
altered foods due to the
low percentage of facts and a lot of risks that go
along with this process of
this engineering. Over the past five years scientists
have been trying to
genetically modify foods, and crops by removing and adding
certain genes.
This process gives them a greater shelf life and keeps the
vegetables from
bruising when in transit, according to GM's proposal on the
Internet.
They also inform that the crops are less likely to loose their color
and more
importantly, retain more of their nutrients. In my opinion this gives
the
consumer a better product and reduces the amount of waste for the
producers
and retailers. Another benefit mentioned was that it is good for
the consumers
who need proteins, which are vital for their diets. GM states,
"Proteins
vital to our diets can be added to foods which don't ordinarily
contain them,
which is important for people lacking them." This advancement
seems to have
others interested as well, even doctors. Experimenting with
DNA, genes, and
cells helps research human DNA and ultimately, the cures for
disease. In Texas,
scientists have found a chemical compound in the plant
borage that produces
gamma linolenic acid, which reduces heart attacks caused
by cholesterol. This
gene they can be transferred into crops that produce
oils in foods such as
margarine and ice cream, consequently making these
fatty foods healthier and
safer. This advancement in technology also has
people doubtful on what these
companies are doing to mother nature. According
to the Health and Consumer
Protection Agency, genetically engineered food
seems to have problems that they
seem to believe is important to our health
and safety. Genetically engineered
foods containing genes resulting from
bacteria and viruses are now starting to
appear in shops, containing fish and
animal genes, without consumer knowledge of
what's in the food that they are
eating. To the Health and Consumer Protection
agency, this promotes a problem
that should be reviewed. Informing the public
about what is being processed
in the food is very important because it could
prevent someone from getting
sick from whatever gene he or she is allergic to.
Because living
organisms are highly complex, genetic engineers cannot possibly
predict what
the effects of these genes will do when placed into foods or
vegetables.
Scientists believe that bacteria will cause sickness to someone's
health due
to the complex genes of plants and animals. In my research I have
found out
that scientists who make genetically engineered food are in the
right
direction, but need more facts on what happens when you put plant and
animal
genes in foods. To me, this does not pose an immediate threat toward
our health,
but I do think that a label should be placed on any package on
any genetically
engineered product. I think what GM is doing is a great idea
if it helps us find
out more about our DNA and what genes can cure a disease
for someone who is in
need of a cure. This type of advancement has good
motives for making better,
long lasting food. If you look at all the benefits
from what genetically
engineered food brings, it seems to cancel all the
risks that are involved in
this process. Even though we haven't quite
perfected this new technology, we
still must look at what it does for science
medicine and the study of human DNA.
I think this is a great idea as long
as the consumers safety is looked out very
carefully.