+

=TEST TUBE FRUIT

OR ANSWER TO POVERTY?

A not-so-simple math equation…

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.).

Argentina

China

U.S.A.

Canada

Paraguay

Brazil

Where? (Top 5 Growers of GM/GE Crops)

“Weighing”The Potential

Benefits ofGME Foods:

Can we finallyEnd World Hunger?

“World hunger is extensive in spite of sufficient global food resources. Therefore increased food production is no solution. The problem is that many people are too poor to buy readily available food. Therefore measures solving the poverty problem is what is

required to solve the world hunger problem… “

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)

“Funnies”

…but we MUST take this issue

seriously!

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 feasible approach to solving world hunger?

•If you aren’t too wild about this growing trend, here are some ways to get involved – even in the most

gentle of ways:

Speak out to yourlegislators – the

federal government ismore involved in your food

than you think!

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!

WORKS CITEDEditors. "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>.

GMO Compass. GMO Crop Growing: Growing Around the World. 2010. Web. <http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/agri_biotechnology/gmo_planting/>.

Sarah 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>.

IMAGE WORKS CITED

Commentary on the Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods. N.d. Cartoon. GBC GhanaWeb. 21 May 2012. <http://gbcghana.com/news/27886detail.htm>.

Debate 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>.

Editorial Cartoons. N.d. Cartoon. SpringerCreativeWeb. 21 May 2012. <http://www.springercreative.com/?cartoon=293>.

GMO 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