Shedding Light On Genetically Engineered Food

When genetically engineered food was introduced in America more than a decade ago, it was promoted as a solution to some of the world's food problems; however, the promised advantages have never been realized. In this volume, the author explores why these crops do not benefit consumers, do not feed the world, do not help the environment, and are not rigorously regulated.

Products of gene modification have vast implications. Creating public awareness and disseminating information on the subject seeks to demystify some of the widely held falsehoods regarding genetically modified products. This is an informative, thorough and easy-to-understand guide book that aims to enlighten and debunk some of the commonly held misconceptions on products of gene modification and to give the reader a better understanding of the role genetic modification will play. The review sheds light on the safety, and application of these products in medicine, the food industry and other areas, especially those where genetic modification may represent a cheap, faster, credible and viable alternative in achieving sustainable development amongst poor communities. Dr. Mirriam Jumba is a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, School of Biological Sciences, and relies on her scientific expertise as she explores the advantages as well as the risks and concerns surrounding genetic engineering. While answering the questions raised by consumers of genetically modified foods foods that have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, to protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield, and to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides and herbicides Dr. Jumba also delves into the many challenges that lie ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, the application of these products in medicine, regulation, international policy and food labeling. The fascinating findings revealed in this study leave no doubt that if the developing world embraces the advantages of genetically modified organisms and biotechnology, dependence on the west can be reduced, ultimately resulting in positive development.

This essential collection of essays explores issues relating to Genetically Modified Foods, with an emphasis on exploring world attitudes, rather than American-centric. This allows readers to understand an issue with a universal sensitivity. Essays sources provide viewpoints from Switzerland, India, Asia, South America, European Union, Australia, Philippines, Africa, Nigeria, America, and the United Kingdom. Readers will evaluate attitudes toward genetically modified food around the world. They will look at the impact of genetically modified crops on agriculture and health. Regulation issues are also presented.

In the European Union nations, and other countries including Japan, Australia and Malaysia, it is a legal requirement that food products containing genetically modified organism (GMO) materials are labelled as such in order that customers may make informed purchasing decisions. For manufacturers and consumers to be confident about these assertions, systems must be in place along the entire food chain which support the co-existence of GM and non GM materials whilst maintaining a strict segregation between the two. This book is an output of a European Union-funded project entitled "Co-Extra: GM and non-GM food and feed supply chains: their Co-Existence and Traceability". The objective of this four year project is to provide practical tools and methods for implementing co-existence that will: enable the co-existence of genetically modified (GM) and non-GM crops enable the segregation and tracing of genetically modified organism (GMO) materials and derived products along the food and feed chains anticipate the future expansion of the use of GMOs The project is designed to foster a robustly science-based debate amongst all of the stakeholders involved in the food and feed chains, and the tools will be assessed not only from a technical point of view but with regard to the economic and legal aspects. It also surveys the GMO-related legal regimes and practices that exist in and beyond the EU. This book examines the practical tools and methods available to implement the co-existence and traceability of GM and non-GM food materials along the entire food and feed chains, as demanded by consumers and by legislation in force in the EU and elsewhere. GM and Non-GM Supply Foods is a source of valuable information for food manufacturers, food research institutions and regulatory bodies internationally.

This book deals with convergences of legal doctrine despite jurisdictional, cultural, and political barriers, and of divergences due to such barriers, examining topics that are of vital importance to contemporary legal scholars. Written by leading scholars from more than twenty countries, its thirty-two chapters present a comparative analysis of cutting-edge legal topics of the 21st century. While each of the countries covered stands alone as a sovereign state, in a technologically advanced world their disparate systems nonetheless show comparable strategies in dealing with complex legal issues. The book is a critical addition to the library of any scholar hoping to keep abreast of the major trends in contemporary law. It covers a vast area of topics that are dealt with from a comparative point of view and represents the current state of law in each area. ​

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.

Biosafety deals with prevention of large scale loss of biological integrity focusing both on ecology and human health. It is related to several fields such as ecology, agriculture, medicine, chemistry and ecobiology. Bioethics is the philosophical study of the ethical controversies brought about by advances in biology and medicine. It is concerned with the ethical questions that arise in the relationships among life sciences, biotechnology, medicine, politics, law, philosophy and theology. It is concerned with the nature of life and death, the kind of life to be considered worth living, what constitutes murder, how people in very painful circumstances should be treated, what are the responsibilities of one human being to others, and other such living organisms. The book has been divided in 28 chapters. It is an integrated approach to encompassing information on different aspects of bioethics and biosafety and their applications in biotechnology. Simple, clearly understandable illustrations, correct and up to date information's are the main features of this book. The book is intended not only for undergraduate and postgraduate students of biotechnology, genomics and related sciences, but is also aimed to draw attention of policy makers and teachers at national and international levels to the possible approaches in the field of biotechnology. Key Features: Covers the topics in depth from basic and deals with the key subject areas. Takes a broader view of the earlier and current situation indifferent countries. Gives the uses and their ethical aspects of the different technological developments made in the biotechnology fields. Covers new developments in wider areas of biotechnology and its applications to mankind. Deals with aspects of the Bioethics and Biosafety protocols and their implements. Briefs the Indian Biodiversity Act.

In an ever changing interconnected world, the agriculture and food system faces constant challenges in many forms, such as the impacts of climate change, uncertainty surrounding the use of novel technologies and the emergence of new zoonotic diseases. Alongside these challenges professionals working in the food system are faced with opportunities to improve food production and distribution. As decision-makers attempt to balance these threats and opportunities in order to secure more sustainable production systems, the key question that arises is: What do we envisage as the future for agriculture and food production? With numerous voices advocating different and sometimes conflicting approaches, ranging from organic farming to wider use of GMOs through in vitro meat production, this discussion of the future raises significant ethical questions. The contributions in this book bring together a diverse group of authors who explore a set of themes relating to the ethical dimensions of the agriculture and food futures, including the role of novel technologies, the potential issues raised by the use of biofuels, the ethics of future animal production systems, concepts of global food security, as well as chapters on food governance priorities and educational aspects. It is intended that this volume serves as an interesting collection and acts as a source of stimulation that will contribute to wider debate and reflection on the future of the agriculture and food system.