Genetic Engineering: Questions of Ethics and Effectiveness
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Case Details:
Case Code : BECG079
Case Length : 17 Pages
Period : 1990-2007
Pub Date : 2007
Teaching Note :Not Available
Organization : -
Industry : Agri-products
Countries : Worldwide
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This case study was compiled from published sources, and is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion. It is not intended to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a management situation. Nor is it a primary information source.
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Excerpts
Genetic Engineering: The Benefits
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With the development of GE, scientists quickly realized the immense potential of
genetics for addressing stagnant yields and crop failures. Human population had
more than doubled between 1950 and 2000 and, according to estimates, the world
population could touch 9 billion by 2050. Ensuring an adequate food supply for
an increasing population was going to be a major challenge in the future.
Supporters of GE argued that GM foods would help meet this challenge. Crop
failure due to pest attack resulted in huge losses for farmers. To destroy
pests, farmers generally used chemical pesticides. However, the use of chemical
pesticides was not problem-free, as they caused environmental damage...
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The Downside
Despite the potential benefits, GE attracted criticism from scientists,
environmentalists, and public interest groups. Some anti-GE groups even
circulated action plans that provided information on how to avoid GM foods
(Refer Exhibit IV for an action plan to avoid GM foods). While
agribusinesses were criticized for only thinking of maximizing profits,
without paying any attention to the probable hazards of GM crops, GM foods
and crops per se were criticized for their environmental, biological (human
health), and economic impact...
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Environmental Impact
Environmentalists argued that GM plants/animals threatened biodiversity
and released potentially harmful contaminants into the environment. GM
crops which were designed to resist insects or pests had the potential
to become harmful to other organisms. A study published in Nature in
1999 found that B.t. corn was poisonous to insects that were closely
related to the European corn borer, including butterflies and moths.
According to the study , pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality
rates in the monarch butterfly...
Impact on Human Health
Some scientists were of the view that GM foods could cause health
problems for humans. |
According to some studies conducted in various parts of the
world, eating GM foods on a regular basis could result in bacterial
proliferation, unwanted growth of tissues, intestinal tumors, or interference
with the functioning of the body's vital organs...
Economic Impact
The oft-repeated explanation given for developing GM crops was that they would
help fight global hunger. However, critics of GM crops argued that GM foods
would not eliminate hunger or malnutrition because these were caused more by
poverty, lack of access to land, and apathetic governments than by the
non-availability of food...
Excerpts Contd...>>
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