3. What’s the Problem?
•Genetically modified and engineered crops present both a global dilemma
and potential solution to another world crisis:
•Global dilemma: Safety & Potential exploitation of increased food production
by mega corporations or authoritarian regimes
•Potential solution to: World Hunger
•Why? Crops that are genetically engineered can be produced in greater quantities due
to their ability to be made resistant to certain pests or herbicides. Some proponents point
to this reason as a way to solve the problem of food scarcity in places like Africa and Asia,
while critics point to the same reason, for many of these “resistant” crops actually become
very sensitive to other herbicides and pests not covered in the transfer of genes from one
organism to another. In other words, the benefits of GME foods could backfire and lead to
potential food safety issues. Preservatives often color the ingredients list of these foods as
well – do you want to eat salmon that has been enhanced to achieve its red flesh, or the
real deal?
•Who does it really hurt? Some analysts believe that the growth of GME foods hurts
farmers in developing nations, due to the cost of the technology required to grow such
crops. This inability to afford necessary equipment could put these small-acre farmers in a
chokehold regarding their position in the global economy – and could spark economic and
diplomatic turmoil if other countries feel pressured or suppressed by others. Some critics
argue that GMO foods harm consumers, as the additives used may not be safe and are
largely for aesthetic purposes (plumper looking chicken breasts, fatter fish filets, heavier
crops (think those gigantic pumpkins you see at the fair!),etc.).
4. Where?
(Top 5 Growers of GM/GE Crops) Brazil
Argentina
U.S.A.
China
Paraguay
Canada
5. “Weighing”
The Potential “World hunger is extensive in spite of sufficient global food
Benefits of resources. Therefore increased food production is no solution. The
problem is that many people are too poor to buy readily available
GME Foods: food. Therefore measures solving the poverty problem is what is
required to solve the world hunger problem… “
Can we finally
End World Hunger?
Quote taken from:
It is a myth that world hunger is due to scarcity of food,
Physicians and Scientists for Responsible Application of Science
and Technology, October 1998
Other feedback on the topic…
“For the most part, genetic engineering techniques are being applied to crops important to
the industrialized world, not crops on which the world's hungry depend.” (Quote from
Biotechnology and the World Food Supply, Union of Concerned Scientists)
“Companies like Monsanto keep arguing that genetic modification will feed the world, but that
is specious,” argues Jonathan Kimmelman, a bioethicist at Yale University. “The financial benefits from
genetic modification will flow mostly to the very largest agricultural producers, putting local agricultural
economies at a tremendous disadvantage. That is really the central issue here.” (Quote from Bruce
Shapiro, Stalking the wild Frankensalmon, Salon.com News, May 5, 2000)
6. “Funnies”
…but we MUST
take this issue
seriously!
7. How Can I Help?
•“We report, YOU decide…”
•There are two sides to the GME food
debate, and only you can decide which
appeals to you and your beliefs. Do you care
if your salmon was created in a laboratory
instead of swimming in the deep blue sea? If
not that, do you believe the claims that the
process hurts local farmers?
•Can world hunger be solved by simply
increasing the food supply, or are there other
factors (like political power and corruption)
that must be considered first?
• Furthermore, do you think that the GME
food movement provides a sustainable and
Speak out to your feasible approach to solving world hunger?
legislators – the
federal government is
more involved in your food
•If you aren’t too wild about this
than you think! growing trend, here are some ways
to get involved – even in the most
gentle of ways:
8. Want more information on
GMO foods? Want to learn
more about the on-going
debate?
http://www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food
The above website gives links to many articles and
studies on GMO foods and their link to the problem of
world hunger and corruption for farmers. I suggest you
peruse the site and then decide for yourself if this is a
solution we should consider, and if we should
implement genetically engineered foods into our own
supermarkets – it’s actually already happening in some
places, so make sure you check to see if your apple was
grown in a laboratory or in an orchard!
9. WORKS CITED
ditors. "Can Biotech Food Cure World Hunger?." New York Times 26 Oct. 2009, Online n.
pag. Web. 11 May. 2012. <http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/26/can-biotech-
food-cure-world-hunger>.
MO Compass. GMO Crop Growing: Growing Around the World. 2010. Web.
<http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/agri_biotechnology/gmo_planting/>.
arah Gardner. Genetically Modified Food v. World Hunger. 2010. Video. American Public
Media: MarketplaceWeb. 11 May 2012.
<http://www.marketplace.org/topics/business/genetically-modified-food-v-world-hunger>.
Shah, Anup. "Genetically Engingeered Food." Global Issues. (2002): n. page. Web. 11 May.
2012. <http://www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food>.
10. IMAGE WORKS
CITED
ommentary on the Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods. N.d. Cartoon. GBC
GhanaWeb. 21 May 2012. <http://gbcghana.com/news/27886detail.htm>.
ebate and Policies on Labeling GMO Food. N.d. Cartoon. Davidson College, Davidson.
Web. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/seminar/2004/GMevents/NH/NH.html>.
ditorial Cartoons. N.d. Cartoon. SpringerCreativeWeb. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.springercreative.com/?cartoon=293>.
MO Food: Will Kill You. N.d. Photograph. New World Order WarWeb. 21 May 2012.
<http://www.newworldorderwar.com/genetically-modified-food-will-kill-you/>.
*All other images from Microsoft Office ClipArt, which comes with every version of
PowerPoint
