Question

Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of production of the genetically modified crops.

Answer 1

Hint: The crops whose genome has been modified in order to achieve higher yields and better products are known as genetically modified crops. Nowadays the use of genetically modified crops has decreased and people have started using organic crops only.

Complete answer:
The crops which are grown naturally without using scientific technology are known as natural crops and the crops whose genome has been altered by the addition of a new set of character or trait with the help of genetic engineering are known as genetically modified crops.

Advantages of Genetically Modified crops:
• They have a better yield because they have been modified to be able to bear certain levels of changes in the natural environment in which the original crop was growing.
• They have better resistance to the pests as Genetically Modified can help the crops in reducing the pests by removing the part for which the pests were coming or it intoxicates them so that the pests do not come
• The nutrient content of the crops can be increased by Genetically Modified and thus a small amount of crop can be enough for a single person.
•They help in sparing the use of costly chemicals and manures which famers have to buy to nourish the crop for a better growth level.

Disadvantages of Genetically Modified crops:
• The purchasing of the genetically modified crops can be economically bad for the farmers as the cost of these crops are specifically higher than the normal crops.
• In some of the cases the plants have gone under mutations and the content which was earlier good for human consumption now becomes hazardous for him.
• This poses a serious threat on the ecosystem in the farm lands as the organisms which were dependent upon the crops for their food will now tend to decrease.
• By the extensive use of Genetically Modified crops in a farm land the pests of that area might become resistant to the toxin of the crops and then these Genetically Modified crops will no longer be effective on these pests.

Note: Keeping in view of the disadvantages of the Genetically Modified crops the people have now started to shift to the conventional method of farming and using only biological solutions for coping the problems like pests. The crops produced through natural and organic ways are cheaper and are comparatively good for health.