Biotechnology companies all over the world are developing different types of genetically modified (GM) crops. However, not enough is known about these crops on our health and the environment. Interfering with nature in this way should be prohibited.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Genetically modified (GM) crops are regarded as an introduction of risks relating to health and environment. Personally, I disagree with the opinion that GM plants are completely harmful and believe in certain benefits which this transgenic technology brings about.

The first and foremost advantage of food with GM organisms is that it is the most effective solution to global food shortage. By applying biotechnology in food production, there are more plants that can resist various types of insects or viruses, and withstand severe weather conditions. For example, oranges with a gene from spinach will be resistant to a tiny insect harming citrus trees; or tomatoes inserted an anti-freeze gene of artic fish can survive frost. Transgenic plants will increase productivity, especially in tropical and sub-tropical developing countries usually suffering serious crop losses due to pests, diseases and poor soil conditions. This allows mass production of crops helping to tackle food shortage and famine worldwide.

Second, cultivating GM plants could benefit agriculture and farmers.  Particularly, transgenic fruit and vegetables with strong resistance to pests, insects and weeds will result in the reduction of chemical uses in farming. Therefore, this bioengineering solution will be profitable for farmers by cutting down costs of pesticide, insecticide and herbicide. Besides, by decreasing needs for ploughing, GM crops help farmers to work more productively by saving time, effort, and money, and somewhat contribute to diminishing greenhouse global emissions.  In addition, there may be GM fruits that get ripe more slowly, thereby allowing for longer shelf-lives and less post-harvest crop loss.

In conclusion, even though it is hard to reach a consensus about the effects of GM crops, I think their extensive contributions regarding innovation solution for starvation and agricultural development make transgenic produce worthwhile for more investment.

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Bài viết có tham khảo từ trang web

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3558185/

https://borgenproject.org/could-genetically-modified-crops-help-prevent-food-shortages/