As I stated it my previous blog post (see below), the making of GM Food could effect not only us, but the environment as well. There are two ways to ensure that the species that the pesticides aren't targeting will not get the genes from GM plants that are dangerous to some species. One is that they can create GM crops that are male sterile, meaning that they do not produce pollen that will harm other animals and plants OR modify the GM crops so that they do not hold the toxins that are poisonous to some insects. Cross-pollination will not occur, and if insects such as the monarch butterfly were to consume the pollen, they would not be harmed. There are some consequences though. This could reduce the effectiveness of the GM crops, leaving them less useful and not work as well, however; think of this. Is the extinction of certain species worth having our food work only a little bit better? Please comment on what you think about this? Is it really worth it?
Another possible solution is to create buffer zones around GM crop fields. This means that non-GM crops would be planted surrounding GM crops, and the non-GM crops wouldn't be harvested. The insect pests would be able to eat and destroy the non-GM crops, and they would leave the GM crops alone, therefore; not develop a resistance to pesticides. The thing is, farmers would have to plant new non-GM crops again and again, every time that the pests devour them all. This costs money and is time and space consuming. There is also a possibility that the pests could manage to get through the non-GM crops. This is a much riskier solution.
I would like to know what you think of these solutions: Do you think they will work? Do you support them or are against GM Food? Comment below!
No comments:
Post a Comment