08S7B trailblazers

Genetically modified crops get mixed response in Asia

Article sourced from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/346971/1/.html
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The soaring prices of food have challenged the import of food, especially to countries that are highly dependent on food imports. This can be attributed to the idea that they have too large a population as compareed to the availability of food in the nation, or that the nation is not involved in agriculture activities. To these countries, a shortage of food will arise in near future as food distribution (affected by imports and availability) cannot keep up with the demand of food to satisfy one's hunger.

However, advancement in food technology has seen the start of the search for alternative food sources.

"There has been a lot of talk about developing high-yielding crops and crops that can cope with climate change using GM seeds," said Daniel Ocampo, a genetic engineering campaigner with the environmental group Greenpeace.

As regards to Ocampo's commentary, I do share the same view that that is one of the very few ways to cope with food scarcity in future. However, it cannot be assumed that everyone is agreeable to GM food just yet. If GM food is sold in the market as ordinary food products, without being labelled as "GM Food", consumers will be consuming such products as they would with natural products. However, imagine if the product is being labelled "GM Corn", how will it's demand change?

In Japan, "companies have been reluctant to test the market for consumer-ready GM food because of labelling requirements and public safety worries." This suggests the high possibility that Japanese are not ready to accept GM food, possibily due to the concern over the methods used in growing such crops. This often includes the usage of chemicals. Also, "while Japan does not ban GM farming, strict regulation has discouraged corporate investment in the area." This further reveals the Japanese government's awareness of the public's concern over GM food.

On the other hand, GM food is viewed differently in countries such as the Philippine, where the government is "subsidising the production of GM corn". It believed that this is the way to rectify the problem of food shortage.

The whole idea of the feasibility of GM food consumption boils down to whether or not the public is ready to accept it as an alternative/substitute to the daily food products they consume. In other words, consumers' taste and preference. If consumers are willing to accept GM food, then its demand will increase, vice versa.

In view of increasing demand, effective advertisements can be carried out to promote GM food as a healthy alternative. Also, experts can promote the benefits of consuming GM food so that consumers are more willing to accept it.

However, we cannot assume that consumers are not aware of possible harms involved. Consumers are also knowledgeable in the process of production of GM food, which involves the use of various chemicals and modification to the original product for high-yielding seeds. With this in mind, they can understand the dangers of these chemicals (if applicable) if they were to enter the body. This will thus deter consumption.

Hence, the public has to be favourable of GM food before the government and the various industries involved can embark on the journey of its development into an alternative future food source to rectify the problems of food shortages and increasing prices.

posted by elyminator @ 5:04 PM