Genetic Technology in Food

Abstract

Successful Agricultural Innovation in Emerging Economies: New Genetic Technologies for Global Food Production Edited by David J. Bennett and Richard C. Jennings (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press), 427 pages. In their book, Successful Agricultural Innovation in Emerging Economies: New Genetic Technologies for Global Food Production, David Bennett and Richard Jennings explore the myriad ways that advances in genetic technology for food production have the potential to remedy the abject conditions of hunger that plague over half of the world's population. Their argument for agricultural innovation is based on the premise that approximately 850 million people suffer from food insecurity because our planet does not have the physical capacity to support the world population at current growth rates. They explore a variety of reasons that limit capacity, including unsustainable food production methods, the decreasing availability of suitable farming land, increasing soil erosion, and increasing greenhouse gas releases, which, when combined, create a pressing need for more viable methods of farming. Many scholars disagree with this argument, claiming that food production is actually sufficient to feed the world's hungry but that the delivery is hampered by political factors such as civil wars or militias that block the passage of aid and supplies. However, Bennett and Jennings posit that this is no longer a suitable explanation, since the population is growing very quickly and is anticipated to expand from 7.2 billion to 9.3 billion or more by 2050. Simply put, worldwide agricultural yield is becoming less sustainable, given this projected world population growth rate. It is thus imperative for the international community to "achieve the highest possible yield of the crop with the lowest possible impact and the greatest sustainability." (1) Thus, Bennett and Jennings present a series of articles that explain why sustainable food production should be a central aspect of the widespread global conversation on food insecurity. The book narrates four distinct elements of the story of genetically-modified (GM) food. Part one delineates the potent connections between plant science and food security. Part two details the positive impacts of genetic technologies on communities around the world. For example, in Argentina, GM crop use has led to higher crop yields, greater job creation, reduced emissions, and carbon sequestration. Furthermore, many crops are now fortified with vitamins and minerals, both of which help to reduce nutritional deficiencies in populations. Part three addresses the policy lessons learned through "implementing new genetic crops." (2) The authors note the importance of both translating new knowledge about genetic modifications into language that fully explains the benefits of these developments to communities, and of embracing the need for equity and openness in such conversations. The authors of articles in this section also note that genetic modifications should be treated as "science-related issues rather than policy-related priorities," and that practitioners must "distinguish good practices and regulations from bad ones." (3) Finally, part four examines the social, legal, ethical, and political issues of genetic technology and the role of the media in this field. The final section highlights many of the contemporary debates surrounding genetic technology, focusing on Monsanto, one of the most well-known multinational corporations in the field of GM foods. Claims of adverse effects of Monsanto crops continue on social and other forms of media, mainly due to the overall negative perception of GM foods perpetuated by the media. The widespread negative perceptions of Monsanto are indicative of the overall negative perception that the media has perpetuated with regards to genetic technology in agriculture. Even though there are no simple answers in these debates, they often tend to be insular, and do not take into account the complex global challenge of increasing food security, which will require greater innovations in agriculture, especially in the developing world. …