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Food Production

Biotech vs. OrganicBy Silvia Menjivar

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THESIS

Organic food is considered the wisest choice for people because it keeps the body healthier, contributes positively to the environment and in the long term, economically, represents more savings.

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FOOD DIVISION

In today’s world, technology has become a risk to the health and welfare of the people. The concept of “food” as its known has evolved and is now divided in two sections: Organic food and GM food commonly know as genetically

modified products.

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ORGANIC FOOD

Consumers believe when food is not prepared using chemical substances or pesticides, the body receives more nutrients and the taste and smell are different. According to a 10 year study conducted by the University of California located in Davis, organic tomatoes are produced in an environment where chemical

fertilizers are not added and this leads to the formation of antioxidants that help in reducing heart disease.

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ENVIRONMENT

The second most important and influential factor is the environment. Organic products are grown by sustainable agricultural methods to avoid water pollution and soil destruction. Conventional farming methods combined with the GM products can cause biological and irreversible damage to the nature.

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DESTRUCTION

Practicing natural farming methods also helps to reduce destruction of wildlife habitats and endangered species, avoid further pollution of streams and rivers, and reduce the use of antibiotics, growth hormones, and

chemicals that could affect the health of humans.

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UNKNOWN SIDE EFECTS

Up today the side effects of the GM products have not been tested. The obtained information is relatively new and does not allow an extensive knowledge about the potential risk in human life and the environment to the future.

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GENETIC MODIFIED PRODUCTS

GM products can also offer certain advantages such as the possibility to eliminate allergy-causing properties in some products, the capability to grow the product in adverse climates,

and more resistance so it

could be stored for longer

periods of time.

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SUPER SEEDS

The plants and products are genetically modified with the purpose to create more resistant plants to the weather and improved the product’s quality. GM products have made available options to overcome the most common problems with organic problems such as weakness, low quality, poor size, and prolonged growing period.

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MONEY SAVINGS

GM products offer a continuous low price that allows families to shop for food with an estimated budget. Considering the economic crisis as well, GM products could be a salvation for many people who cannot afford the high prices of organic food and is now able to have a farm and cultivate the product without other people’s help.

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CONCLUSION

Regardless of the benefits of GM products, organic products are considered the wisest choice for people because it keeps people healthier, helps the environment and in the long term represents more savings due to avoiding unknown side effects from a genetic alteration in food. The best option is to go organic.

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WORK CITED

Koch, K. (1998, September 4). Food safety battle: Organic vs. biotech. CQ Researcher, 8, 761-784. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

Cooper, M. H. (1993, June 6). Food safety. CQ Researcher, 3, 481-504. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

Weeks, J. (2008, February 29). Buying green. CQ Researcher, 18, 193-216. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

Hosansky, D. (2001, March 30). Biotech foods. CQ Researcher, 11, 249-272. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

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THANK YOU!!!

GO GREEN!!