World Hunger: How GMOs Can Help
By
Lauran Halpin and Tara Maloney

This site was designed for Genetically Modified Organisms, a biology department seminar at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. GMOs Class Homepage

(permission pending) photo courtesy of www.time.com

Even though world agricultural supplies are great enough to provide each person on the planet with 4.3 lbs. Of fresh food every day, millions of people still go hungry. Reasons for such incredible world hunger range from lack of infrastructure or industry within hunger stricken nations to bureaucratic and political red tape that prevents aid from reaching its destination or from being fairly distributed.

Genetically modified crops have added a new challenge to be overcome in the fight against world hunger. Many countries are refusing to accept food aid from the U.S. because it may be genetically modified. Other countries fear the science and possible health implications resulting from the consumption of still relatively untested GM crops. And still others fear economic implications. The U.S. argues that GM aid is just as nutritive (if not more so) and just as safe as non-GM aid and that aid of any kind should not be refused when a substantial portion of the population of a particular country is malnourished. The U.S. also suggests that possible farming techniques and technology could help starving countries to begin to increase their own agricultural output.

The following links attempt to shed light on the world hunger crisis by illuminating the truth behind commonly held misconceptions about hunger and discussing health issues associated with malnutrition. The links also endeavor to explain both sides in the political debate over GM aid as well as the benefits and drawbacks of GM food.

Links:

Hunger Statistics
Myths About Hunger
Hunger Related Illnesses
Where Does All the Aid Go?
The Battle Over GM Aid
GM Aid: Pros and Cons
The Future of GM Aid
References

Tara Maloney GMOs or Subsistence Farming

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© Copyright 2002 Department of Biology, Davidson College, Davidson, NC 28035.
Send comments, questions, and suggestions to: lahalpin@davidson.edu or tamaloney@davidson.edu