Genetically Modified Foods: Pros and Cons

This article discusses the pros and cons of genetically modified foods (GMOs). It explores the arguments for and against labeling GM foods, the potential of GMOs to end world hunger, and the ethical concerns and benefits of using GMOs based on the Christian worldview.

Man vs. Nature
This week we are discussing Genetically Modified Foods and just like any product available
there are pros and cons. This will be a hands-on assignment that will require you visit a grocery
store to compare and contrast Genetically Modified and Organic produce. Be sure to select the
same type of fruit or vegetable to compare and contrast. You are not required to buy the product!
Note: You may ask a store employee for help to identify which produce is organic and which is a
Non-organic.
Student name:
What fruit or vegetable are you comparing? We are comparing organic carrots to
conventional carrots
Non-organic Organic
Price $1.50/lbs $2.42/lbs
Characteristics:
 Color
 Size
 Smell
 Weight
Orange, yellow and red
Cellos, Table size and Jumbo
size available
Sweet, flavored, fresh and crisp
60 grams
Dull orange in color
Packaging size: 5, 10 kg
Fresh and sweet
61 grams
Where was it
grown/imported from
(country, state, etc.)?
It was grown in Grimmway
Farm Citrus and was imported
from California.
It was grown in Nash’s organic
farm and was imported from
Washington.
Where were
observations made
(farmers market,
Walmart, etc.)?
The non-organic or conventional
carrots in the farmer’s market
were sold at a cheaper rate.
However, in Walmart, the
conventional carrots were
branded under non-organic
carrots for sale and were cheaper
than the organic carrots.
The organic carrots on the other
hand were expensive both in
Walmart and the farmer’s market.
The carrots appeared same but the
seller mentioned about the use of
no pesticides in the farming
procedure.
Short Answer Questions (Minimum of 150 words each)
1. What are the some of the arguments for labeling GM foods? What are some of the arguments
against it? What side do you feel is more valid, why? Provide at least one source per
argument (one for and one against) to support your claims.
GMO crops have been considered as a major breakthrough in the field of science and
technology. While a number of researchers have presented their views in favor of
introducing GMO food items. Their main argument have been based on increasing the
productivity as well as nutritional benefits of the food items. Researchers have invariably
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

mentioned that the GMO fruits or vegetables do not differ from the properties of
conventional food items and have not been reported to cause any physical harm or
environmental contamination (Eisenstein,2014). Further, biotechnologists argue that
GMO labelling would lead to price hike across different grocery stores. On the other
hand, activists argue that consumers have the right to choose what they eat and GMO
labelling would allow transparency on the end of the food industry (Motta, 2014). I feel
that GMO labelling should be mandatory as consumers must have the right to choose
what they eat and want to feed their family.
2. Do you feel as though GMO foods are the answer to end world hunger? Why or why not? If
GMOs are the answer to the shortages, why do food prices keep going up?
According to my perspective, I feel that GMO food crops through the years could be a
potential solution to end world hunger. GMO crops have substantially increased the
supply of food and the food prices are considerably lower that what could have been the
case, if GMOs did not exist. Research studies suggest that corn based products would be
priced 6% higher and soybean based products would be priced 10% higher if GMO crops
did not exist (Paull, 2015). It can be mentioned in this context that the increased supply of
the food products helps in lowering the price that is received by the organic farmers for
growing the crops (Yang & Chen, 2016). However, it is important to understand that food
prices keep going up because of the rising population where the demand is high and the
supply is not adequate. Further, distribution of GMOs across rough terrain leads to
surcharges which accounts for price increase.
3. What are some ethical concerns or benefits of using GMOs based on the Christian
Worldview? (Refer to “Here’s What Religious Experts Have to Say About Faith and GMOs”
for help answering this question.)
The Christian worldview on GMO has sent mixed messages in relation to the utility of
the GMO crops. While catholic activist, Kelly Moltzen has questioned the potential of the GMO
to deliver the benefits promised, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences stated that the GMO could
solve the problem of world hunger if used appropriately. In addition to this, Cardinal Peter
Turkson mentioned that GMOs could increase the dependence on proprietary seeds and push the
farmers to a new form of slavery (VICE News, 2019). However, overall the Christian world view
has urged biotechnologists to weigh both sides of ethics and technology and come up with a
valuable solution to serve humanity.
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

References:
Eisenstein, M. (2014). Biotechnology: Against the grain. Nature, 514(7524), S55.
Motta, R. (2014). Social disputes over GMOs: An overview. Sociology Compass, 8(12), 1360-
1376.
Paull, J. (2015). GMOs and organic agriculture: Six lessons from Australia. Agriculture &
Forestry, 61(1), 7-14.
VICE News (2019). Here's What Religious Experts Have to Say About Faith and GMOs.
[online] VICE News. Available at: https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/neyw5z/heres-
what-religious-experts-have-to-say-about-faith-and-gmos [Accessed 8 Apr. 2019].
Yang, Y. T., & Chen, B. (2016). Governing GMOs in the USA: science, law and public
health. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 96(6), 1851-1855.
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.