Benefits of GMOs
Studies show some of the potential benefits of GMOs:
·Higher efficiency in farming -with the use of pesticide-
resistant/herbicide-tolerant GMO crops,there will be less
use for herbicides/pesticides,and lower cost for labor and
cultivation.
·Increase in harvest -GMO crops resistant to pests and
diseases means increase in potential growth and harvest.
·Control in fertility -controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds
(GMO seeds)ensures higher yields.
·Increase in food processing -altered characteristics of GMO
crops help ease food processing.
Improvement of desirable characteristics -GMOs offer longer
shelf life,enhanced color and taste,enhanced production or
reduction of enzymes,and other modified characteristics of
plants,animals,and microorganisms.
Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement -GMO crops
like maize fortified with lvsine and Golden Rice fortified with
vitamin A and [Link] are now edible vaccines for viral
and diarrheal diseases.
·Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides
There are over 400 million acres of GMO farmlands all over
the [Link] top five countries that operate GMO farmlands are the
United States,Brazil,Argentina,[Link] [Link] of the GMO
agricultural crops that have been approved for public consumption and
are already in the market include:alfalfa,corn,papaya,soya bean,sugar
beets,and [Link] of these GMO crops were made to be resistant
to [Link] examples of common food with GMOs are Kellogg's Corn
Flakes,Quaker Chewy Granola [Link] Slim Fast,Quaker Yellow
Corn Meal,and Alpo Dry Pet Food.
In the animal industries,there are ongoing researches like studies
on Pacific salmon that grows twice faster than the native salmon and
chicken resistant to H5NI bird flu [Link] GMO animals
are all in research laboratory and not yet approved for public consumption.
Potential Risks of GMOs
Despite the promising claims of GMOs,the opponents of GMOs
claim [Link] example,there are studies that show a link in the
adaption of pesticide-resistant GMO crops to the significant growth of
super weeds that became pesticide-resistant,[Link] caused additional
problem to more than 12 million acres of farms in the United States.
Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:
[Link] genetic engineering is still a young branch of science,
there are inadequate studies on the effects of GMOs to humans
and the environment.
[Link] engineering promotes mutation in organisms which the
long term effect is still unknown.
[Link] consumption of GMOs might have the following effects:
More allergic reactions -GMO food may trigger more
allergic reactions,more so create new ones,as side effect of
the gene alteration.
Gene mutation -GMO food may develop abnormalities
and mutation,more than the desired product of the gene
alteration.
Antibiotic resistance -GMO food contains antibiotic-
E
resistant genes;this may cause disease-causing bacteria
likely to be more antibiotic-resistant too,increasing the
possibility of widespread of the disease.
Nutritional value -GMO food may have change in their
nutritional value.
Potential Environmental Risks Caused By GMOs
Karki(2006)summarized the perceived potential environmental
risks caused by [Link] identified major risks are the following:
[Link] in gene flow-there is a potential risk of the modified
gene to be transferred from the GMO crop to its wild relative or
organism in the soil and human intestine(when ingested).For
example,a decaying GMO plant could possibly transfer the
modified genes to the bacteria and fungi in the [Link]
and fungi are capable of using a genetic material from their
[Link] are no studies yet on the effects of the
absorbed modified gene to the other organisms.
[Link] of new forms of resistance and secondary pests and
weed problems -GMO crops resistant to certain pesticides
may trigger new form of pest resistance while GMO herbicide-
tolerant crops may lead to the over use of the herbicides which
may trigger new form of weed resistance.
[Link] of Virus and Bacteria to Produce New
Pathogens -the modified gene can be transferred and
integrated in the viral or bacterial genes which may lead to
viral or bacterial gene modification or [Link] living
modified virus and bacteria may then cause new disease that
may affect other organisms including human beings.
Other direct and indirect environmental risks caused by GMOs
(Molfino &Zucco,2008):
[Link] environmental risks are:
.introduction of the GMOs in the natural environment
may cause disruption of the natural communities through
competition or interference;
·the possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMOs in
the environment if it escapes its intended use and may
post threats or become pest;
· may cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes if
GMOs interfere with the natural biochemical cycles;and
·the persistence of GMO genes after its harvest which
may cause negative impacts to the consumer of GMO
products.
[Link] environmental risks are:
·alteration of agricultural practices like managing negative
impacts of GMOs to the environment such as evolution
of insects,pests,and weeds that became resistant to
GMO crops;
·may have impacts to biodiversity caused by the alteration
in agricultural practices;and
·may have varied environmental impacts due to GMOs
interaction and release in the natural environment.
Potential Human Health Risks caused by GMOs
A major concern in the use and consumption of GMOs is its effect
on human beings,primarily on human [Link] potential human
health risks are identified(Akhter,2001),such as:
consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it is not
naturally or organically produced;
.consumption of GMOs may alter the balance of existing
microorganisms in the human digestive system;
·production of toxins may be detrimental to human health;and
·production of allergens may have adverse effects on humans.
Worldwide,there are many groups that campaign against GMO
food [Link] encourage people to boycott GMO products and
to be vigilant in checking if the food they buy has GMO ingredients.
In the Philippines,the Supreme Court has ruled against the use of Bt
eggplant,another genetically modified crop(Ongkiko,2016).
Other potential risks that raise major concern are:
Human Genome Project (HGP)-Mapping of human genes
●
to provide framework for research and studies in the field of
[Link] was feared that the ability to produce human
genetic information would create biases and give much power
to people holding the information and to the disadvantage of
those who do not have the genetic information.
·Mutation of genetically engineered microorganisms -
Genetically modified bacteria and viruses may mutate to
become more resistant or virulent that may cause more
dreadful diseases for human beings.
Cloning -The asexual reproduction of an organism using
parent cell through genetic [Link] February 24,1997,
the first mammal,Dolly,a sheep from Scotland,was born
through [Link] its celebrated success came the fear of
human [Link] emerged the ethical issue of man“playing
God.”
Scientists and medical practitioners would definitely continue to
search for ways to preserve [Link] engineering is perceived to be
One of the keys to this [Link] therapy and gene alteration are
promising ways to improve human health conditions.
On the other [Link] fears loom in the process of this quest
There are many things to be considered before a certain medical process
using genetic engincering be accepted.
These concerns were affirmed by the reports,of the World Health
[Link] reported three major issues on GMOs that are in
international public [Link] are the potential risks of alleric
reactions,gene transfer/[Link] outcrossing(WHO,2014).
The primary issue on GMOs presented in public debate is its
unnatural production or what is termed to be a violation of [Link]
creation of new [Link] [Link] moral issues on defiance to
natural [Link] concem is the potential risks to the environment
and human [Link] which so much is unknown yet.
Biosafety on GMOs
There are initiatives for the protection of the general human
population regarding the issues and concerns about [Link]
organizations developed principles and treaties that somehow ensure
biosafety on [Link] of these initiatives are as follows:
The Codex Alimentarius Commission(Codex).The Food and
Agricultural Organization(FAO)together with the World
Health Organization(WHO)created The Codex Alimentarius
Commission (Codex).Codex is an intergovernmental
body that develops the Codex Alimentarius,know us the
International Food [Link] is responsible for the
development of standards,codes of practices,guidelines,and
recommendations on food [Link] the pressing issues and
concerns on GMOs,in 2003,Codex has developed principles
for the human health risk analysis of genetically modified
(GM)food [Link] principles include pre-market
assessments of GM food products and its evaluation of direct
and indirect [Link],the Codex principles has no
binding effect on national legislation but through the sanitary
and phytosanitary measures of the World Trade Organization,
national legislators are encouraged to complement their
national standards with the Codex Principles (WHO,2014).
Carragena Protocol on [Link] in 2003,Cartagena
Protocol is an international environmental treaty that regulates
the transboundary movements of Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs).The Cartagena Protocol requires exporters to seek
consent from the importers before its first shipment of LMOs
(WHO,2014).
International Trade Agreement on labeling of GM food and food
[Link] agreement requires exporters of GM food
and food products to label their products and give rights to
importing parties to reject or accept the GM [Link]
premise of this policy is that consumers have the right to
know and the freedom to choose GM or non-GM products
(Whitman,2000).
The World Health Organization(WHO,2014)claims that all GM
products that are available in the international market have passed safety
assessment by national [Link] safety assessments basically look at
the environmental and health risk factors and food safety usually follows
the Codex Food Code.
GMOs in Philippine Context
Introduction of GMOs in our country created issues and
controversies similar to other countries with [Link] are,of course,
proponents and opponents of these issues.
The GMO concern started in the 1990s with the creation of the
National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines(NCBP)through
Executive Order No.430 of [Link] NCBP developed the guidelines
on the planned release of genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs)and
potentially harmful exotic species in [Link] [Link] Department of
Agriculture released Administrative Order No.8,the guideline for the
importation and release into the environment of GM plants and plant
[Link] that same year,the entry of GMO importation started
(Baumuller.2003).The Philippines was marked to be the first country
in Asia to approved commercial cultivation of GMOs when GM com
planting was approved in 2002(Serapio &Dela Cruz,2016).
From December 2002 to [Link] are 70 GMO applications
approved by the Department of Agriculture for the release to the
environment,62 GMOs of which are approved for food feed and processing
and the remaining 8 were approved for propagation(Aruelo,2016).
In 2004,the Philippines was classified by International Service for
acquisition of agri-biotech applications as one of the fourteen biotech.
mega countries which grow 50.000 hectares or more of GMO crops
annually (James,2004).In that same [Link] Juan Flavier authored
a bill on the mandatory labeling of food and food products with GMOs
The Senate did not pass the bill.
In [Link] Philippines became part of the Cartagena Protocol
on [Link] the same [Link] Order No.514 was issued to
address the biosafety requirements of the Cartagena Protocol and the
establishment of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF).
In 2010,the Organic Agriculture Act was issued,encouraging
organic agriculture than GMO-related [Link] to this act,there
are sev ral provinces like Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental which
agreed to support organic [Link] was the establishment of the
Negros Organic Island through a memorandum of agreement(MOA)
between the two provinces in [Link] this MOA,the two provinces
were able to ban the entry of GMOs and living GMOs to their provinces
through provincial [Link] to this case,Davao City passed
the Organic Agriculture Ordinance in [Link] city ordinance helps
the prevention of field testing of GM Bt eggplant in the UP Mindanao
Campus(Aruelo,2016).
In 2012,Representative Teddy Casino,together with other
congressmen,filed a bill pushing for the mandatory labeling of GM food
and food [Link] date,there is no Philippine biosafety law,only
biosafety regulations formed under NBF.
A study on the biosafety regulations of the Philippines concluded
that the existing regulation is weak,which can be fixed through legislation
such as a republic act(Richmond,2006).
In December 2015,the Supreme Court ordered to put an end to
the field testing of GMO Bt eggplant and declared Administrative Order
No.8,series of 2002 of the Department of Agriculture as null and void.
This means that any actions or procedures related to GMO importations
and propagation is temporarily put to stop until a new administrative order
is issued in accordance with the law.
In March 7,2016,five government agencies namely,the Department
of Science and Technology,Department of Agriculture,Department
of Environment and Natural [Link] of Health,and
Department of the Interior and Local Government,passed a Joint
Department Circular No.1,series of 2016 on rules and regulations for the
research and development,handling and use,transboundary movement.
release in the environment,and management of the genetically modified
plant and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology.
This joint department circular paves way to issuance of new permits for
planting and importing GM crops in the country.
…SUMMARY
Genetic engineering is an emerging field of [Link] quests
are to preserve and prolong [Link] more than four decades since the
first genetically modified bacteria was produced,thousands of genetically
modified organisms have been created and [Link] are approved
by experts and government authorities for human use and consumption
while others are kept in institutional research laboratories subject for more
experiments.
There are advantages and disadvantages in using genetic engineering
in both fields of medicine and food and agriculture,there are controversies
that are still debatable up to the [Link] major concern of the opponents
is the long-term effect of GMOs to humans while the proponents'flagship
is the success stories of the GMO recipients.
There is still a long way to go for GMOs to prove itself,as humans
seek answers to life's predicaments or as humans play like God.