This House believes that genetic modification is the best
way to feed the world – FOR
• As they are cheap to grow, yields are increased and this means they
have the ability to feed more people and ultimately alleviate world
hunger.
• It is forecast than the global population will rise to more than 9 billion
people by 2050. Due to climate change, many crops which are heavily
relied upon today will no longer be able to grow in those environments
meaning an alternative will be needed. Genetically modified crops can
survive in all conditions and are therefore necessary in order to feed the
world in the future.
• Linking to the previous point, genetically modified crops are much more
disease resistant and can be used to help make other crops more
resistant to disease as well. Proteins which provide the defence
mechanism can be moved between varieties in order to allow more
vulnerable crops to turn on their resistant mechanisms. Not only this,
having disease resistant crops means yields won’t fail due to specific
diseases during that growing season. As a result, farmers can plant large
yields knowing they will survive and money can be made each growing
season. This also helps keep consumer prices low.
• Genetically modified crops do not need pesticides and fertilisers in order
to survive and thrive. This means they are better for the environment
and these fertilisers contain toxic chemicals which emit greenhouse
gases and can often run into rivers, polluting them.
• Furthermore, genetically modified crops have a much longer shelf life