With a growing world population one of the most pressing issues is that of feeding such a large number of people. Some people think that GM foods offer a viable solution to this problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

One of the biggest issues the world is currently facing is that of ensuring enough

food

for all people as the world population has been on the rise. It is considered by some that one feasible solution to

this

problem is utilising genetic modification technology in

food

production. I completely disagree with

this

idea for health and environmental reasons.

Firstly

, genetically modified crops can be a threat to local ecosystems. Many crops are made more resistant to diseases, insects and severe weather conditions through genetic alteration, which could cause them to become stronger than most species in the area.

As a result

, the ecosystem could be thrown out of balance, leading to the loss of some local species. In Japan,

for instance

, genetically modified tomatoes spread to other areas through seed dispersal and deprive the natural plants of their habitat.

Secondly

, the health impact of

GM

foods has still been unclear. Because genetic engineering is relatively a new area of research, its effect on the human body after consumption remains a cause for concern. For

this

reason, more rigorous research is required before we are able to rely on

GM

products on a larger scale. A good example of

this

is the corn produced using

GM

technology in France, which was proven to be carcinogenic by a number of studies. In conclusion, I entirely disagree with the idea of using

GM

food

as a viable solution to the issue of

food

shortage due to population growth unless its safety and environmental effects are tested thoroughly. It is crucial that we carefully consider the risks that might arise when utilising technology.