Transgenic Crops Ethical Issues (Essay Sample)

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Transgenic Crops Ethical Issues
Transgenic crops are those that contain a gene or genes that have been artificially introduced instead of these plants acquiring them from pollination (CSU n. pag.). The genes that are inserted into these crops might be obtained from unrelated plants or totally different species. Transgenic crops are commonly referred to as genetically modified (GM) crops. Transgenic crops are created in order to add desirable genes that allow crops to have characteristics like improved yields, disease and pest resistance, drought tolerance, and improved quality. According to Kole et al. (201), transgenic crops were grown commercially in 114 million hectares in at least 23 countries. Transgenic crops have the potential to alleviate hunger in a world with an ever increasing population (Robinson 71). In addition, the adoption of transgenic crops can lead to the creation of cash crops that are resistant to diseases thus guaranteeing returns for farmers. Examples of these crops are tobacco and cotton. However, the issue of transgenic crops has become a battleground that involves politicians, scientists, farmers, lobby groups, and the general public (Robinson 71). Some typical concerns are whether transgenic crops violate the sanctity of nature, the impact of transgenic crops on the environment, and whether big corporations are using them for profit.
One of the relevant aspects of transgenics is its impact on the environment. According to Robinson (72), the issue between transgenics and the environment arises from the debate on why the environment should be protected. One side argues that the environment should be protected for its intrinsic moral value, while the other side argues that the reason to protect it is because the environment is a valuable resource for humans (Robinson 72). A significant point to note is that different countries have different levels of interest about protecting natural environments. However, a common thing with transgenics is that it can have both beneficial and harmful impacts on the environment.
One of the possible benefits of transgenic crops is that they can be engineered to suit a specific environment (Robinson 72). According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, traditional forms of agriculture impact the environment in a number of ways. Large scale agriculture requires vast amounts of water, chemicals, and energy in order to ensure high yields. When it comes to chemicals, they are used liberally without considering their long-term effects on the environment (Union of Concerned Scientists n. pag.). According to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (3), many of the transgenic crops under development will radically change the management of crops on farms, which will benefit the environment. One of the potential benefits of transgenic crops is that they can be designed to thrive in specific environments. For example, crops whose genes have been altered to make them drought resistant can be planted in areas that have limited water resources. The plantation of these drought resistant crops can allow reservoirs and other sources of water to be allowed to recharge naturally as the strain of irrigation can be significantly reduced.
Another way in which transgenic crops can be beneficial to the environment is in the area of chemicals. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, toxic insecticides and herbicides are accumulating in the ground and entering ground water systems and wetlands. Robinson (72) notes that genetically modified crops can significantly reduce the amount of chemicals that accumulate in the environment. For example, plants modified to have increased nitrogen fixation characteristics can eliminate the need for using fertilizers, which can significantly reduce the seepage of harmful chemicals into ground water and rivers through surface runoff.
Another potential benefit of transgenic crops can be seen in ecology. Studies have shown using transgenic crops to target specific pests can lead to improved biodiversity. According to Carrington, a study conducted in China showed that the introduction of BT cotton resulted in an increase in the number of insect predators. The BT cotton in this case was designed to produce a bacterial toxin that is lethal to some insects (Carrington n. pag.). The rationale behind the increase in insect predators is that the introduction of this transgenic crop reduced the need for pesticides that were lethal to a wider variety of insects. The reduction in the use of pesticides led to improved biodiversity as insects like spiders, ladybirds, and lacewings increased in number. This increase had the additional benefit of reducing the number of pests affecting neighboring plantations with conventional crops. The potential benefit of transgenic plants is, thus, an improved biodiversity and the reduction of pests affecting conventional crops.
On the other hand, transgenic crops have several potential risks. Some of the transgenic crops have been engineered to be resistant to the application of herbicides (Robinson 73). However, this presents a significant risk to conventional crops as the resistance to herbicides can potentially be transferred to weeds through natural gene transfer mechanism (Robinson 73). Drug resistant weeds present a significant risk as they can harm commercial farming on a very large scale. Another potential risk comes from the development of crops that are resistant to diseases. The developed resistance to viral diseases can lead to mutation and evolution of the viruses to become more harmful (Robinson 73). The harm from these mutations is that there will be a need to conduct expensive research to develop chemicals that can kill these new and harmful viruses/diseases. In addition, the resistant viruses can spread and affect other plant species in the natural environment.