An Analysis of Environmental Threats Created by GM Crops

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the environmental threats associated with genetically modified (GM) crops. It delves into the risks of gene contamination, where altered genes can disrupt the original traits of crops, leading to unpredictable ecological consequences. The essay highlights the competitive advantage of GM crops over natural species, potentially causing ecological and economic damage. It also examines the impact on ecosystems, the emergence of new diseases, and ethical concerns. The essay discusses the issue of pesticide use, the slow disappearance of birds, and the lack of transparency from food processing companies. The author concludes by emphasizing the need for risk assessment procedures and the importance of considering the adverse effects of GM crops compared to their agricultural benefits.

Environmental threats created
by Genetically Modified
Crops

Table of Contents
Environmental threats created by Genetically Modified Crops.............................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Genetically Modified crops are those species in which new genes have been
introduced which alters their characteristic traits and might results in the emergence of
some new feature as well. But with the emergence of these transgenic crops, many
serious issues and threat related to environment is coming into existence which might be
not easily controlled or cured.
Are GM crops (Genetically Modified crops) a risk to the environment?
Modification done in Genetically Modified crops have certain impact on the
environment as when different genes are introduced to a particular crop, results can be
different. The original pattern of genes can be altered due to introduction of other ones.
There can be numerous hazards created by them in an environment, leading it to a risk.
These threats can be predictable as well as non-predictable (Barrows, Sexton and
Zilberman, 2014).
As each genes are controlling different traits in an organism, a single insertion can
drastically impact the genome of it, which may be immediately recognisable or may be
later discovered. Some of the predictable risk can be contamination of genes in which
mixing of two different genes can result in loss of original traits in the crop species. Thus,
resulting in alteration of them, its behaviour and ecological relationship can also be
affected as the original character of that particular crop will not be same; therefore, it will
not have same behaviour in the environment. Competition with natural species becomes a
serious concern as genetically modified crops grow faster as compared to others;
therefore, having a competitive advantage over natural species (Blancke and et.al., 2015).
This feature can allow them to be offensive in nature and spread to become new habitat
which can cause ecological as well as economic damage. Impacting the Ecosystem as a
change in any species can lead to a great impact on the ecosystem. A minute impact can
lead to risk of damage and even destruction; affecting other species and working of
natural ecological cycle.
When GM crops are introduced in any environment, problems will always arise
where elimination of them could be impossible. Many risks are identifiable when any
genetically modified crop is introduced but this doesn't means that they are curable or not

harmful for the environment or species who will consume (Gaugler, 2017). With the
consumption of GM crops, the chances for emergence of new diseases increase which
any or may not be cured. This is one of the serious impact on living beings which can
occur due to genetically modified crops therefore, having an adverse effect on people
who are consuming it. Every genetic modification has some measure for the management
control to resist it to create any negative impact. But sometimes, the modification in the
genes results in situations which cannot be managed thus, creating a serious issue for
controlling the adverse impact. The regulatory approvals therefore, require measure for
defining limit and control (Klümper and Qaim, 2014).
When genes are introduced to any crop in the intention of modifying them and
creating a new resultant, it is known that it will impact ecological environment and the
effective range is to be predicted to keep the working of it balanced. But it may also
change potential of that particular crop in an ecology and can bring some changes in
functioning and structure unexpectedly. Genetically Modified crops can create some
severe effect for the long term. As, there are certain factors which are biotic and abiotic
conditions facilitating the particular effect to dominate for a long time. Positive effects of
long term are very beneficial for the environment whereas negative effects can create a
serious risk (Lyall, 2017).
Other serious concern is the pollution created, as the biotechnology industry
claims that growing of GM crops leads to less use of chemical pesticides and weed
killers. But the use of pesticides and other chemicals used in the process have not been
used less. The excessive use of these chemicals and pesticides leads to environmental
pollution. In some cases genetically modified crops has led to the emergence of new kind
of pesticides which are not affected by normal pesticides used. Even in the formation of
these chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides in industries lead to certain
chemicals which are by product of the processes and are not biodegradable. It has been
noticed that there is a slow disappearance of birds from farmland which are growing
genetic modified crops. These crops may have the potential to survive in any
environment but some species which are relying on certain crops as their food are
intolerant to these modified crops leading them to leave farms as the chemical content

used in growing procedure of of GM crops may be harming them as well (Nicolia and
et.al., 2014).
There are many cases which have come up with certain serious issues regarding
the ethical concern. Many food processing companies does not mention about the use of
genetic modified food crops as it can affect their business, keeping the health of
consumers at a great risk as many customers are not in the favour of the GM crops. They
may have a pre perception regarding these crops that would not lead them to buy food
which contains genetically modified crops. Sometimes, the side effects of using GM
crops are not mentioned to the farmers or the consumers which may create hazards and
risk human life also. Also, it may lead to difficulties in the agricultural conditions (Risks
and Precautions of Genetically Modified Organisms, 2011).
Risk created by these transgenic crops can be measured earlier which may lead to
control the adverse effect created by these crops in the environment. There are many
assessment procedure for risk depending upon the type of genetically modified species.
Many scientists have recommended that before the environmental release of GM crops,
they should be compared with the agricultural practice available and other technological
option available. For food safety, there are certain assessment procedure that introduces
guidelines and standards for the quality use of transgenic crops and the environmental
impacts of them (Prado and et.al., 2014).
CONCLUSION
GM crops have many risks and adverse effects in comparison to benefits it might
be giving in the agricultural sector. There are certain health issues regarding its
consumption and disturbing ecological balance of the environment. Many ethical
concerns have been risen in the business of these kinds of crops in the market.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Barrows, G., Sexton, S. and Zilberman, D., 2014. Agricultural biotechnology: the
promise and prospects of genetically modified crops. Journal of Economic
Perspectives.28(1).pp.99-120.
Blancke, S. and et. al., 2015. Fatal attraction: the intuitive appeal of GMO opposition.
Trends in plant science.20(7). pp.414-418.
Gaugler, R., 2017. Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control: 0. CRC press.
Klümper, W. and Qaim, M., 2014. A meta-analysis of the impacts of genetically
modified crops. PloS one.9(11).pp.e111629.
Lyall, C., 2017. New modes of governance: developing an integrated policy approach to
science, technology, risk and the environment. Routledge.
Nicolia, A., and et.al. An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop
safety research. Critical reviews in biotechnology. 34(1).pp.77-88.
Prado, J.R. and et.al., 2014. Genetically engineered crops: from idea to product. Annual
review of plant biology. 65.
Online:
Risks and Precautions of Genetically Modified Organisms. 2011. [online]. Available
through: <https://www.hindawi.com/journals/isrn/2011/369573/>.