could show corporate profitability to be very influential, while a thorough debate and sufficient public participation would ensure that real social and environmental concerns are in fact adhered to. A quick acceptance of GE foods without proper testing etc. The way in which we reach the answer to the question, 'are GE foods safe?' is where a lot of the problem lies. That they are against any labeling or other precautionary steps and measures that states may wish to take is of paramount concern. Hence this leads to questions of the motives of corporations and countries who are using the plight of the developing world as a marketing strategy to gain acceptance of GE food as well as dependency upon it via intellectual property rights. This furthers the need for pesticides (often created by the same companies creating and promoting genetically engineered crops). Crop uniformity, which the biotech firms are promoting, will reduce genetic diversity making them more vulnerable to disease and pests.This is a very young and untested technology and may not be the answer just yet.Patenting laws go against the poor around the world and allow biotech companies to benefit from patenting indigenous knowledge often without consent.

GE Food is an expensive technology that the farmers of the developing nations would not be able to afford easily.

Food shortages and hunger are - and will be - experienced by the poorer nations.

The problem of food shortages is a political and economic problem.

That is, as well as scientific debates on the merits of genetically engineered food, there are equally, if not more important, debates on the socioeconomic ramifications of the way such science is marketed and used. However, there is a growing wave of concern from citizens, farmers and scientists who question the way the research is currently being handled by a few large, profit-hungry corporations. Biotechnology could be the wave of the future and genetically modified foods could really provide alternatives to help increase food production. Supporters of this technology maintain that it ensures and sustains food security around the world as the population increases.ДЄs time goes on, the science behind genetic engineering is no doubt improving. A lot of food that we eat today contains genetically modified ingredients and usually without our knowledge. expanded side notes, shows alternative links), use the print version:ДЄn issue that has entered the mainstream media in a lot of countries (noticeably not really in the US) is Genetic Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification (GM) of food. This page last updated Thursday, September 26, 2002.

Lots of food mod