The pros and cons of applying DNA-modifying technologies in agriculture | Experts’ Opinions

The world’s population is growing at a great pace and by 2050, there will have to be sufficient food to satisfy 10 billion people. Calculations by the United Nations show that by that year, cereal production will have to have grown by almost one billion tonnes and meat production by over 200 million tonnes to a total of 470 million tonnes if we aim to feed everyone on the planet. This is a huge amount of food which may be incredibly difficult to source in a sustainable way in terms of the changing climate and the degradation of biodiversity. Producers are looking into new technologies, such as the genome editing of plants through methods like  Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), in the hope that these approaches can enable farmers to better manage crop diseases, and increase their resistance to extreme weather conditions. But could this technology be the solution to feeding a growing global population in the face of climate change without resulting in any serious consequences? Check out some expert opinions below.

DevelopmentAid: What are the pros and cons of CRISPR in agriculture in terms of the applications, benefits, and risks?

“CRISPR technology is a method for specifically modifying the nucleotide sequence of a gene, or a non-coding element (such as a microRNA), to render it non-functional, using a nuclease called Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) to cut DNA and enable genome editing. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of applying this method to agriculture? Can this technology make crops tastier, more nutritious, more productive and more resistant to climate change? Before implementing CRISPR technology in agriculture, it is logical to first revisit all the crops whose production guarantees the food needs of populations, with the aim of identifying the genes in their DNA that are responsible for the limiting traits for each given plant. This repertoire of genes will then help in the actual application of the technology, which will help to create new genetically modified plants with the potential for high production yields and good-quality harvests. Today, some companies are already advanced in this field and have mastered GMO production to a high level in the development of intensive rice, corn, and soybean crops used in livestock feed. But, because of intellectual property protection laws, we can’t know exactly what technologies they are using to achieve these technological feats. Certainly, these companies use technologies that irradiate plant genomes with radioactive radiation. Others go as far as sending plant seeds into space (where they are exposed to cosmic radiation) in satellites for a time, before returning to earth to sprout more productive plants that are more resilient to drought and insect pests. For scientists, genetic manipulation is in itself an opportunity to solve the problems facing agricultural production companies. However, many questions remain: What impact might the consumption of GMOs have on the human organism? Doesn’t the development of transgenic plants affect the conservation of biodiversity in the world’s various ecosystems? To answer such questions, we need to direct our research to these areas. We feed cattle with GMOs and eat the meat from these animals. How has the health of populations fared since this began, and what are they suffering from more frequently these days? To keep ecosystems in balance, we need to make an effort to conserve biodiversity. We know that plants in an environment interact with each other through cross-pollination and chemical exchanges in the soil. With the application of transgenic technologies, aren’t we creating invasive species that could lead to ecological disasters in many parts of the world? We believe that research aimed at finding answers to the above-mentioned questions will lead to the drafting of sound regulations to govern the application of CRISPR technology in agriculture, and thus enable the world’s governments to supervise the activities of transgenic companies.”

“Feeding the world with GMOs: an unrealistic vision with harmful consequences. In principle, biotechnology can significantly contribute to improved agricultural and food production performance if used responsibly and ethically. Unfortunately, the current use of GMOs does not meet these criteria, and the dangers they pose to health, the environment, and food sovereignty are too significant to ignore. GMOs are often touted as a miracle solution to feed the growing world population. However, this vision is far from a risk-free reality. Indeed, GMOs raise major concerns on various fronts, endangering not only human health and the environment but also food sovereignty and the traditional knowledge of farmers, particularly in the Global South.

Health Risks. On the health front, GMOs can introduce new allergens or toxins into our food. While studies are needed to fully assess these risks, concerns remain about their safety. Additionally, some GMOs use antibiotic resistance markers, which could diminish the effectiveness of antibiotics in human and animal medicine, posing a major public health problem.

Environmental Risks. The environmental impact of GMOs is equally concerning. The cultivation of genetically modified plants can affect non-target species, thereby reducing biodiversity. Moreover, prolonged use of these crops can promote the emergence of resistance in harmful insects and weeds, creating super-organisms that are difficult to control. The spread of GMO genes into wild plant populations or non-GMO crops adds another layer of complexity, with unpredictable consequences for our ecosystems.

Biopiracy and Food Sovereignty. Biopiracy is another worrying dimension. It involves the appropriation of local genetic resources by companies without consent or compensation for local communities. This practice robs countries in the Global South of their biological wealth and threatens farmers’ sovereignty. Patents on GMOs prevent farmers from freely using seeds they have cultivated for generations, forcing them to buy seeds annually from large corporations, thereby reducing their economic autonomy and ability to maintain traditional agricultural practices.

Economic Dependence and Loss of Traditional Knowledge. The economic dependence of farmers on seed companies is another major issue. Patents and restrictive contracts limit access to seeds, affecting farmers’ ability to choose what they grow and compromising their food security. This situation also erodes traditional knowledge and marginalizes seed conservation practices that are essential to the resilience of local agricultural systems.

Solutions and Recommendations. To address these issues, firm measures must be adopted. It is imperative to ban herbicide-tolerant varieties resulting from new genetic techniques like mutagenesis, which are disguised GMOs. The mandatory labeling of animal products fed with GMOs is also crucial to allow consumers to make informed choices. Protecting beekeepers and bees requires banning pollinating and honey-producing GMOs, and it is necessary to strengthen civil society participation in biotechnology expertise to counter seed industry lobbies. In summary, while GMOs may offer potential benefits in terms of agricultural yield and pest resistance, it is crucial to consider and mitigate the potential risks to health, the environment, and farmers’ rights, and to ensure the ethical and sustainable use of genetic resources.”

“CRISPR represents a significant advance in gene-editing technology with profound implications for agriculture. This precise genetic modification tool presents a complex balance of potential benefits and risks in addressing global food security challenges. Its applications range from enhancing crop yields and nutritional content to developing disease-resistant livestock and controlling pests. The benefits include increased food security, improved nutrition, reduced environmental impact, and economic advantages for farmers and consumers. CRISPR’s precision and efficiency make it a powerful tool for rapid crop and livestock improvement, potentially crucial in adapting to climate change. However, concerns persist about its ecological impacts, long-term health effects, ethical considerations, and socioeconomic implications. To harness CRISPR’s potential while mitigating risks, a balanced approach is necessary, including rigorous scientific research, transparent regulatory frameworks, public education, ethical guidelines, and policies ensuring equitable access. While CRISPR could significantly contribute to feeding a growing global population, its implementation must be guided by careful assessment, ethical considerations, and inclusive policy-making. It’s important to note that traditional breeding methods and sustainable farming practices have been extensively applied globally, yet they alone have not fully addressed the scale of food security challenges faced by a growing population in a changing climate. CRISPR should therefore be viewed as a complementary tool, potentially filling gaps where traditional methods have reached their limits, rather than as a replacement for established agricultural practices.”

See also: Challenges and opportunities of regenerative agriculture | Experts’ Opinions

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