The Benefits of Gm Crops Outweigh the Potential Harms

The Benefits of Gm Crops Outweigh the Potential Harms

  • Submitted By: jmanlopez
  • Date Submitted: 10/11/2010 9:54 PM
  • Category: Technology
  • Words: 684
  • Page: 3
  • Views: 557

The Benefits of GM Crops Outweigh the Potential Harms

Since their introduction in the nineties, genetically modified crops have been a very controversial topic, but that hasn’t stopped them from being used widely in the U.S. and other developed countries. The question still remains, are GM crops beneficial or detrimental? GM crops have been found to be more economically viable, which is a big positive in these economically rough times, and they are arguably better for the environment as well. GM crops are also a more viable solution for developing countries than any other current methods. Therefore, I think the answer is that the benefits of GM crops outweigh the potential harms that they may cause.
In these tough times economically as well as developing countries, it is important to find a way to grow crops cheaper and more efficiently to turn a larger profit, and GM crops have shown to be the best way to get these results. A study shows that in 2004, the direct farm income benefit due to GM crops is a $6.5 billion dollar increase (Brookes, 2004). Improved weed control has led to lower harvesting costs and quicker times for harvesting (Brookes, 2004). This shows that the use of GM crops has benefitted farmers economically by increasing their profit. This could be of enormous help to poorer countries that have trouble growing crops because of the cost involved.
As well as being better for the economy, GM crops are also arguably better for the environment. Since 1996, GM crops has caused about a 14% reduction in the environmental “footprint” in the cropping area (Brookes, 2004). Also, since there is less of a need for herbicide or insecticide sprays, the reduced fuel use by farmers significantly reduces green house gas emissions. In 2004 alone, 1,082 kg of carbon dioxide emissions were prevented by the use of GM crops (Brookes, 2004). All of these are positive impacts to the environment that are due to the use of GM crops....

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