The debate over the bioethical issue of genetically modified foods is one that has been around for quite some time. The details and specifics of the matter can get quite complicated, and many don’t fully understand the subject at majority. But I’m going to outline very clearly how genetically modified foods are a technology worth well consideration. The reason I believe this, and you should too, is for the facts that it offers a sustainable food security option and it benefits all countries holistically. If we want to look towards the big picture that entails the future, then we most definitely have to look towards genetically modified foods to accomplish long term goals in food scarcity.

Food security is having sufficient physical, social and economic access to safe, nutritious and culturally acceptable food. Witcombe and Sanchez, biochemists at the Centre for Advanced Research in International Agricultural Development, state GMO's defining factor are their staunch ability to adequately provide for a growing population. The demand for more accessible food is evident in both Africa and China. With China’s rapid growing population, their demand is growing exponentially by 4.6% yearly, according to Forbes magazine. And economically, in 2011 the U.S. agricultural exports were around $137 billion- which constitute 10 percent of our nation's exports. This rate has doubled from ten years ago. If you were to estimate that the projected supply/ demand rates stay level, in 20 years it is estimated to make up 20 percent of the U.S.'s exports. It is easy to say that all countries have a reliance on agricultural trade. The world has to keep up with increasing demands, but at the present time, the demands are outperforming the supply. According to the UN's food and agricultural organization (FAO), it is projected that “by 2050 we’ll need 70 percent more primary food-stuffs, particularly the four major crops of maize, rice, wheat and soybean. By 2030, we’ll need 30 percent more than we have today. There isn’t a great deal more land that we can expand on to grow these particular crops, so at least 80 percent of this increase will have to come from more yield per acre of land.” Sustaining our people should be our main concern. GMO's alters the genetic code of crops, but the benefits are directly proportionate to the health of the people. In a 2005 study by the world health organization, one example from the numerous offered states, “GMO's are efficient in removing allergens and anti-nutrients. Cassava roots naturally contain high levels of cyanide. As they are a staple food in tropical Africa, this has led to high blood-cyanide levels which have harmful effects such as the progression towards a deep coma, the accompaniment of pulmonary edema, and cardiac arrest. Application of modern biotechnology to decrease the levels of this toxic chemical in cassava reduces its preparation time and reduces the natural levels of glycoalkaloid toxin in the root.”  In terms of food production, the introduction of GMO's in food assists in the overall well-being of the people. We have a decreasing amount of land to provide for an increasing amount of people. We have to look towards the solution that gives the most benefits, in order to cater to world needs.

Furthermore, on a large scale, GMO’s benefit all countries. Agendas in developing countries focus on widening the crop base, and on enhancing the yield and nutritional value of the crops that are important to rural communities. In 2012, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimated that nearly 1 out of every 8 people suffer from chronic malnutrition. There are 16 million malnourished people in developed countries, and 789 million malnourished people in underdeveloped countries. We have to take on the responsibility of investing in public research that is crucial to reducing food gaps between rich and poor. Food insecurity and poverty are strongly correlated. The Swedish International Cooperation Agency (SIDA) defines poverty as a three-fold deficiency: a lack of security, ability and opportunity. Poverty is the main cause of food insecurity, and it is also a significant cause of hunger. Food insecurity and malnutrition impair people’s ability to develop skills and reduce their productivity. It is estimated that in Africa and South East Asia, most children do not receive sufficient Vitamin A. A deficiency in this results in higher chances of childhood diseases- Some 250,000-500,000 children younger than age 6 go blind due to a lack, and within a year more than ½ of them die. Golden Rice, a genetically engineered strain of rice containing beta-carotene was made to combat this and since 2011, has saved nearly 2 million people.

By implementing genetically modified foods, we are ensuring strong roots in food security for the foreseen future. I believe that with this innovation malnutrition and other harms that come from the scarcity of food may be relieved. Let’s make world hunger a thing of the past and food security a realistic picture for the people of America today.