Introduction
In roughly 50 years, the world's population will
be approximately 9 billion and the demand on farming will be increased
two and a half fold (Africa News Service, 2003). Farmers
are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand but sadly,
according to most of the current literature, it is a losing battle (Africa
News Service, 2003). Not only are farmers struggling to keep
up but it is a widely known fact that the amount of practicing farmers
in the food producing countries of the world is exponentially
decreasing. Indeed, the situation is perhaps even more dire with
farmers in smaller countries where a poor harvest means that they and
their families do not eat. It is a fact that in India, 10,000
small farmers have committed suicide in the last ten years due to their
poor harvests (Africa News Service, 2003).
Why are farmers suffering so? The answer is
simple, the ancient enemies of modern agriculture that have existed
since time began continue to ravage sensitive food crops each day.
Blight, insects, cold, heat, and salinity, to name a few, have existed
as long as the agriculture industry has. As is often the case,
science has been invoked in aiding farmers in this struggle and among
the most potent of weapons that science has formulated is genetic
modification. Biotechnology and genetic modification have provided
farmers with several possibilities with which to fortify their crops
against these antagonists. Though genetic modification has proven
to be a powerful tool for farmers, it does not come without its
drawbacks. The question that we will attempt to answer here is
simply "Are GM (genetically modified) crops a benefit or detriment to
farmers?" Here you will find an analysis of the different types of
research and applications of genetic modification in both a conventional
and biotechnological sense. Additionally, we highlight some of the
ramifications of this newly developed technology for good and for bad.
It is only after one is presented with the facts that one can make a
decision and this website is an attempt at just this kind of education.
*Permission Pending* (Ag
Tours, 2003)
Click here for links to our final papers on the subject of GM crops and
the farmer.
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