Question

What are potential impacts on society and the environment of using a genetic approach to improving food productivity? Do you think this is how we should fix the worlds hunger problem? Why or why not? Please explain…

Answer 1

Answer:

- Society: the use of genetic improving techniques may have a positive impact through crop improvement of traits of agronomic importance such as, for example, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

- Environment: the development of genetically modified crops conferring resistance to pesticides may have a negative effect on wildlife species  (both plants and animals) and humans living in such agroecosystems.

Explanation:

In crops, genetic improvement technologies can be defined as the techniques associated with the development of better crop varieties, i.e., varieties that have higher grain yield, produce more biofuel, higher fiber content, etc. Genetic improvement techniques include, among others, selective breeding and genetically modified organisms. In crops, genetic improvement techniques have the potential to reduce hunger in the world. However, it is important to note that genetic engineering may be associated with the horizontal transference of genes and the development of genetically modified organisms (GMO), which may have harmful effects on wildlife species and humans, thereby GMO crops must be carefully assessed before their release into the field.