Custom term paper on Food Crisis and Biotechnology

Biotechnology can play a role in staving off a food crisis not only in Africa but also in the rest of the world (Copans). But before analyzing its numerous benefits let us admit that better targeted agricultural research is needed in the sphere and other alternative ways to minimize the soil erosion, reservoirs degradation, groundwater pollution, chemical fertilizers and pesticides using. Intensification of agricultural production may lead to more independence of developing countries on the commodities from abroad. Improvement in all parts of agricultural system can minimize harm to the environment, however, it is insufficient to meet the world food crisis, as changes outside of agriculture are also of great importance, according to “Biotechnology and the World Food Supply”. So, more productive crops are only a part of the solution to the world’s food crisis and genetic engineering will unlikely become a kind of panacea for hunger, though, the world seems not to do without its contribution to agricultural system development.
In accordance with Norman Borlaug, biotechnology may and will help farmers produce higher yields on less land, therefore help developing countries accomplish things that are improbable using conventional plant breeding. He claims: “The technology is more precise and farming becomes less time consuming…I believe genetically modified food crops will stop hunger, however, I recognize the value of crops created by traditional plant breeding” (Borlaug).
Despite evident benefits that are already established by the scholars there is a degree of skepticism about biotechnology and its safety. Truly, there develops a battle over biotechnology, many question the wisdom of dabbling in complex natural processes that remain mysterious to humans who call genetically modified products “Frankenfoods”. As Ryan Zinn, the Organic Consumers Association coordinator, states, genetically-engineered crops would not only not help to improve the situation, but continue to put the food supply at risk (Moskowitz).
There has been a lot of debate on the desirability of genetically modified foods, though separate surveys show lack of evidence on the effects of modified food on human beings with Greenpeace, the Organic Consumers Association and similar organizations raising alarm on the transparency of GM food creation, testing and safety. Critics of biotechnology and genetically modified food emphasize inadequacy of safety test technology and inability to trace the long-term impact of GM food on human organisms, as environmental risks as well as long-term health risks are not sufficiently investigated. A recent survey shows that some kinds of genetically modified crops caused liver, kidney and heart problems in mammals, another demonstrates no aberrations. They say that genetically modified food contains toxins and increases the risk of allergenic reactions, according to “Biotechnology to the Maximum to Avert Looming Sub-Saharan Food Crisis”. Vanessa Barrington in her “A Global Analysis: Is Biotechnology Really the Only Way to Solve Hunger?” cites Annie Shattuck who says: “The myth of one gene, one solution to complex problems like climate change and poverty is a myopic way to look at what is complex ecological and social problem” (Barrington).
With the success of the Green Revolution of the twentieth century it was considered that the problem of feeding the world was solved, however, “magic seeds” modified were not an easy thing to invent. In Nigeria, for example, according to Environmental Rights Action, food sovereignty is said to be broken due to biotechnology promotion of genetically modified organisms that are made on unproven technologies. The Federal Government accentuates the need to embrace the technology, though its impact is controversial and may not be fully predictable. Researchers should prepare comprehensive information to support the safety of genetically modified crop varieties, carry our tests under controlled conditions, that requires years of persistent work before the product appears on the market.
Consumers are more and more ecologically conscious and claim to be provided with assurance that food created by biotechnology means is safe, that in turn requires using safety assessment strategies such as GM molecular characterization, agronomic characterization, toxicological assessment etc.

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Critics of biotechnology gather telling arguments grounded on safety, ecological and economic issues that may application of biotechnology leads to. They claim that this technology is not efficient and propose to devote money and efforts to biodiversity intensification and provide evidence that though they are widely used in the US and other countries, genetically engineered crops have not significantly increased yields. Many objections to the biotechnology are based on intellectual property law, as genetically modified seeds are subject to licensing, so, changes should be made in this connection.
It is quite obvious to the scholars that food biotechnology enables human beings to improve the farmlands and the quality of food, it provides resistance to crop pests, reduces pesticide usage and increases yields. Biotechnology provides benefits not only in food production but also in medicine and environmental management. In food production it improves the quality of foods, their color and content, makes them resistant to diseases and pests. Such vegetables and fruits have built-in immunity to various viral diseases and it improves both: the productivity and the quality of a product. Genetically modified plants are able to produce proteins to protect against harmful insects and it looks like an alternative to chemical pesticides. Environmentally conscious farmers may this way reduce chemical substances usage and reduce the use of tilling. So, crop improvements will increase food production and assist in those areas where the farming conditions are not that favorable for growing rich harvests, according to “Food Biotechnology Review”. They will allow farmers to use less water, fertilizers, herbicides and chemical pesticides. They may reduce the usage of synthetic fertilizer that destroys soil and harms ground water too.
The role of biotechnology in fermentation can hardly be overestimated, as it ensures the production of a wide variety of enzymes used in Asian diets. And they are used to make positive changes to food storing at low temperatures, for instance. As Reuters states, biotechnology is one of the promising tools to improve the productivity of agriculture and combat hunger in developing countries. Scientists are pondering over a new “Green Revolution” that will solve the problems with food availability as some countries are already undergoing the crisis and they citizens are protesting the rising foods costs. Over 40 food riots took place all over the world between the years 2007 and 2008. The rebellions are against the causes of the food crisis, but not an efficient way to search solutions that may help to fix the world hunger issues.
So, according to Eric Holt-Gimenez, executive Director of Food First Institute for Food and Development Policy, we need to root out the causes, recognize sickness, not symptoms, that is to consider revolution, not riot. Quite the opposite, soil and water issues on the global scale were taken for granted, and as Rattan Lal, Ohio State University soil scientist, once said: “It is a problem that it is not going to be solved. It’s going to get worse before it gets better” (Lal). Pedro Sanchez, already mentioned in the context, presupposes that current crisis could have been avoided, if humans had promoted fertilizer in Africa, as it is time-tested.