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A survey of literature shows that, while GMOs are overwhelmingly beneficial to farmers, consumers, and the environment, policy precautions should be taken to prevent poor land management practices.
Genetic modification of our food has become one of the most polarizing issues in the country. Too often, food advocates become mired down in political debates, forgetting to consider the scientific merit of their arguments. This happens frequently in the context of human health or the natural environment. On one side, GMOs find favor with environmentalists wary of heavy pesticide use, as well as nutritionists excited about the possibilities of enriching staple foods to solve world hunger. On the other side are agriculturalists who worry about the escape of genetically modified strains into the wild and skeptics who fear the possibility of allergens being spread, unbeknownst to consumers.
A common argument for genetic modification is its usefulness in the developing world, as touched on in a 2013 study published in Genes and Nutrition. Farmers who use GM seeds often take a surplus of produce to market. Critics point to the relatively high cost of these seeds but tend to ignore the overall benefits like higher yields and reduced need for pesticide. These benefits are compounded by the nutritional value that GM products provide for malnourished populations.
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