GMOs = Solution to Trinidad's Food Problem?
Hi everyone, Sarah here. So far we’ve talked
about GMOs and the potential trouble they can cause. But is there any
advantage to using or even growing GMOs?
Well maybe there is, especially for Trinidad.
Plants can be modified in many ways; eggplant
and rice are given insect resistance, sugar cane with drought stress tolerance
and antibiotic resistance and sweet pepper with disease resistance. (M. Zhang,
Wohlhueter, H. Zhang, 2016). Due to these modifications, crops would have a
better chance of survival, we would no longer need to use pesticides and harsh
chemicals when planting.
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Purdue University Sees What a "Ban" on
GMOs Would Look Like
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The use of GM foods can provide a solution to
one of our major problems here in Trinidad which is our inability to ‘feed ourselves’, with the increased
yields that it provides. Along with this, GM crops offer great economic
benefits as it results in increased yields and does not require too much ‘TLC’
(they are tougher crops) (Goldbas, 2014).
Imagine if we planted modified crops in
Trinidad…
• Plants would be easier to maintain and much more cost effective
• The food supply could be sourced locally
• The need for foreign exchange would decrease, and God knows how much
we need that after that budget!
Think about this, wouldn’t it be great if we
even started exporting produce internationally on large scale?
Could GMOs be our solution to diversify our
economy?
But we cannot only look at the economic aspect
of GMOs. What actually happens when we consume GM foods? No one really knows
(Goldbas, 2014). If it's nothing that’s fine. But what if it's detrimental? What
happens then?
So then we have to ask the question, is it really
worth it?
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Genetically Modified Foods.
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References
Sources:
Zhang, C.,Wohlhueter, R., & Zhang, H. (2016)
Genetically Modified Foods: A Crtical Review of Their Promise and Problems.
Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295?via%3Dihub
Goldbas, A. (2014) GMOs: What Are They?
Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxygateway.sastudents.uwi.tt/docview/1545045515?accountid=45039&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid%3Aprimo
Images:
Camellia-Mechael, L. (2016) Purdue University
Sees What a "Ban" on GMOs Would Look Like Retrieved from http://www.foodinsight.org/purdue-study-economics-no-gmo-biotech
Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved from http://www.henry4school.fr/Food/GM-foods.htm
In a country like ours where agricultural community is small, what effect does the introduction of GMO's have on the small enterprise farmers which most times are market vendors? Would they still be able to compete or is the better way to expose them to these modification techniques. At what cost will that occur and who will incur it. With a non existent/non functioning FDA unit, who will conduct monitoring and evaluation? Other than those questions..pretty good content
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback. While the initial cost of purchasing GM seeds and seedlings may be higher than that of non-GMOs, I believe GMOs would benefit both small scale and large scale farmers in the long run. The overall cost price of crops will be reduced because the use of pesticides and herbicides will be decreased. With regard to the monitoring and evaluation of GMO usage, the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries should put mechanisms in place once it is done on a large scale. I hope this sufficiently addresses your questions and stay tuned for more of our posts where you can get additional information.
DeleteProvocative and informative content
ReplyDeleteThank you Shiniska! Hope you stay tuned for more of our posts.
DeleteI agree with the first individual. I don't really know much about these stuff. But will we or they (market vendors etc.) be affected by not having it or should they engage themselves with those techniques. Info. taken into great consideration & very informative.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback. I believe that GMOs would definitely benefit small scale farmers as the overall cost of production would be reduced. Stay tuned for more of our posts to get more information.
ReplyDeleteThis was well done and very interesting. Great job . I hope we actually look into this as a country and not let it be just talk . My sister works in the ministry of agriculture, maybe I could find out how feasible something like this is.
ReplyDeleteHey Ajamu thanks so much for your feedback! Yes I think that’s a great idea, if you do let us know. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you stay tuned for more.
DeleteThis was well done and very interesting. Great job . I hope we actually look into this as a country and not let it be just talk . My sister works in the ministry of agriculture, maybe I could find out how feasible something like this is.
ReplyDelete