Feeding the World with Transgenic Crops

With the world’s population set to increase by two billion within the next 30 years, genetically modified crops may be part of the answer to feeding the hungry, according to a United Nations report.

Genetically modified crops, the report contends, could help farmers in developing countries by increasing the amount and quality of the crop grown, partly by targeting specific problems and needs of developing countries. Equally significant, crops such as rice and vegetables could be genetically enhanced to carry more nutrients, enabling consumers in developing countries to get a bigger bang for their buck.

Even so, the report warns that biotechnology is no panacea and must focus on the needs of developing countries.

Critics of the report contend that global hunger is best solved through greater investment in distribution networks and a fairer system of international trade.

Posted by Jim Langcuster at May 17, 2004 10:20 AM | TrackBack