How does genetic modification harm the environment?

The majority of genetically modified crops are altered so that they are herbicide resistant. This means that farmers are able to spray their crops for weeds without harming the produce. However, this results in two major environmental concerns:

• Increased herbicide and synthetic chemical on crops and surrounding areas as the herbicide is sprayed from planes

• Weeds may take up the DNA and cause them and their offspring to become herbicide resistant. This could occur as a result of bees and wind taking pollen from the genetically modified crops and transferring it to related weeds. Consequently, new super weeds that are uncontainable and immortal may arise and continue to pass on altered DNA, thus causing a weed epidemic. Such an epidemic would kill the original crops and cause displacement of various species from the ecosystem.

http://www.gourmet.com/images/foodpolitics/2008/05/fp_potp_croppestic608.jpg

 In addition to this, genetically modified organisms and microorganisms in particular, behave spontaneously and may mutate and change form. This could mean that genetically modified microorganisms are present within the soil without human knowledge, thus the genes could be taken up by different plants or enter run-off water. The characteristics acquired by organism that take up the new genes could ultimately result in a new threatening species.

http://www.ballina.nsw.gov.au/content/uploads/MadeiraVineforWeeds.jpg

Finally, if a genetically modified animal were to escape from captivity, the ecosystem could be greatly disrupted as its genes may be passed to feral populations. This would disturb breeding patterns, hence eliminating entire species and causing varieties of organisms to quickly diminish in numbers.

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 There simply needs to be more research conducted on these environmental impacts before genetic modification becomes common practice, as it is obvious that the implications of this procedure could be catastrophic. 

Eat Safe!

Dr Georga Leisemann (Feeding Your Family)