Journal or Publishing Institution: EMBO Reports
Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2288773/#!po=83.0097
Author(s): de Melo‐Martín, I., and Meghani, Z.
Article Type: Journal Publication
Record ID: 477
Abstract: Like any technology, agricultural biotechnologies that use genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have their opponents and supporters. For their proponents, the significant benefits of GMOs for humans, animals and the environment clearly outweigh any risks that are inherent with new technologies (Jauhar, 2006; Reis et al, 2006). For example, crops could be genetically engineered to grow more quickly and more densely to use less land, feed the increasing world population and slow environmental degradation. These new crops could also be engineered to reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides, thus decreasing the contamination of soil and water. Similarly, animals could be engineered, for example, to lack the traits that account for their suffering in large‐scale, intensive animal farming environments.
Keywords: genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pesticides, herbicides, risks, benefits
Citation: de Melo‐Martín, I., and Meghani, Z., 2008. Beyond risk: A more realistic risk–benefit analysis of agricultural biotechnologies. EMBO Reports, 9(4), 302-306.
