Genetically modified rice is usually cultivated to increase the production of food by making the crop stronger. Thus, it will not be easily damage by drought, frost, insects, and viruses. This modification also enables the crop to compete more effectively against weeds for soil nutrients. It produces plants that have a high tolerant of herbicides.

Moreover, the composition of the crop is usually altered to fulfill the market demands by improving the quality and the nutrition of the food. For instance, golden rice, it is an excellent source of beta-carotene. This will then be converted to vitamin A in human body.

This rice is advantageous especially to poor people in underdeveloped countries. This is because they frequently consume limited diet that lacks of vitamins which is important for the body. Thus, it leads to disease with vitamin deficiency or death. The crops are also useful in those countries that are facing decreasing farmland and increasing population. China, for example, is one of the countries that is turning to genetically modified organism technology to ensure food supply.
From farmers’ point of view, larger quantity of crop can be cultivated as it is easier to fight pests. It allows them to spray pesticides to their genetically modified rape crop without killing the plant itself. In few cases, the farmers can protect the crops by using less crop spray or choose a more environmentally friendly crop spray.


References:
Keith R. S., Renee G. S. (2009).Genetically Modified Food. Retrieved on June 02, 2010 from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs084

State Government of Victoria. (2010). Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved on June 01, 2010 from http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Genetically_modified_foods

GAO.(2002). Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved on June 03, 2010 from http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02566.pdf

Ingo Potrykus. (2001). Golden Rice and Beyond. Retrieved on June 02, 2010 from http://www.goldenrice.org/PDFs/Potrykus_GR_and_beyond_PP_2001.pdf

Bionet. (2002). 4 examples of genetically modified crops. Retrieved on June 07, 2010 from http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/ff_cont3.htm


Posted by Sagita Steffi