GM Foods and Climate Change

Video from an English project. *What are Gm Foods: GM stands for Genetically Modified . Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species. *Why are foods genetically modified? Genetic engineering offers a rapid and precise method of altering organisms as compared to traditional methods that are slow and inaccurate. *Pros: Increased Agricultural Yield and Efficiency- As genetically modified crops increase productivity on the farm, it may lead to decreased food costs for consumers Pest Resistance- Some varieties of genetically modified crops produce their own pesticides that may reduce pesticide application in the fields. Herbicide Tolerance- There is evidence that herbicide-tolerant genetically modified plants may result in reduced soil erosion and herbicide application. Nutrition Benefits- Food can be modified so that they have greater nutritional benefits, which may be of great use in countries where there are significant food shortages. Medical Benefits- Scientists are conducting research on using genetically modified crops to cheaply and effectively produce human medicines. *Cons: Ecological Effects- Potentially, increases of genetically modified crops may negatively affect the environment. For example, genes for herbicide resistance could …