Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Who will benefit the most?

There have been hundreds of small outdoor trials of GM crops in the UK but only one company, BASF, is actively growing GM crops at present. From http://www.guardian.co.uk

So far, the most successful area applied the GM technologies appears to be at the crops. It is reported that the GM crops, such as soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, etc. were putted in the United States, Argentina and so on 22 countries by 10.3 million farmers. Because of the competitive prices of GM crops in the international trade, many countries, although do not allow to plant GM crops in their country, still import GM crops to add in the process of food or breed the livestock.

However, why are GM products so acceptable in some countries like the US? But why does the European Union insist on the rejection for them? I think it is because of their obvious advantages as well as the distinct disadvantages.It is known that Uncle Sam establishs a set of stringent rules in food processing and producing for securing his people's health. But surprisingly, such controversial products were almost first accepted and vastly promoted in this super country. The major reasons have two, I suggest, one is the features of GM products, especially GM crops —high productivity, high quality and high adaptability. For instance, because of its herbicide-and-insect resistance, 89% of the planted area in America is GM soybean. GM soy has good appearance and high producing rate of soy oil, and enables to grow on infertile and droughty land. Thus, GM crops will probably become an important means to solve the food shortage coping with the gradually atrocious climate in the world.

The other reason is the patent of GM technology. As the 90% GM seeds in the world are supplied by American company-- Monsanto,(the largest agricultural company in the world). American government perhaps is very clear that grasping the agricultural high-tech is as vital as keeping ahead in the military affairs and the outer space. Assumedly, the patent of GM tech will likely be a new weapon for the US to control the other countries’ economy in the future. If yes, Argentina absolutely was the first instance.

4 comments:

  1. You have a suffecient amount of links in your blog which was very useful in helping me find out some things I was unsure on like the "allergy". Also, using facts in your openign line like the date etc was very informative. Your use of rhetorical questions in your text also got me as a reader thinking about GM products and how I don't agree with them at all. One note, after your use of commars, you usually put a space before the next word. e.g. the woman,who would be the woman, who. Otherwise great blog!!

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  2. Thank you very much for your nice comment and your observation! I will check these tiny things in my whole blog and correct them as soon as possible.

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  3. this is an interesting topic to consider~
    before reading your blog, i always carried a good image about GM food since i think they do good to our health mostly. but after reading your blog i have a completely new understanding about what GM product really is:)
    i agree with you about the reason gm product are quiet popular in US is the obvious advantages as well as the distinct disadvantages they carrie. but personally i think if we just stand in the middle,meaning don't reach to the two extreme point,then Gm product would just be a normal part of our life.
    overall,nice argument

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  4. Thank you for your comment.yes,as you said if we just enjoy the result of this high-tech, GM products "would be a part of our life", but if we take into account their unknown impact for our future, we might be scare about its rapid development in the world.

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