This blog post examines whether genetically modified foods are a technology for human survival or a controversial issue that fuels anxiety.
We cannot live without eating food throughout our lives. In Korea, where rice is the staple food, cultivating rice varieties that adapt well to climate change is critically important. Rice yields and production levels vary significantly depending on geographical environment. Rice from Northeast Asia and the Americas has very high yields but struggles to adapt to abrupt climate shifts. Conversely, rice from Africa adapts well to climate change but has relatively low yields. If we could genetically combine only the advantages of these two types of rice, we could create an optimal rice variety with high yields that also handles climate change excellently.
In the past, plants that could naturally crossbreed within the same species or genus were artificially crossbred to obtain varieties with superior traits. While this method sometimes produced desired traits in subsequent generations, it also occasionally resulted in undesirable traits. In such cases, the process of selecting individuals with the most desirable traits from the offspring and re-breeding them was repeated. This traditional breeding method had the disadvantage of being time-consuming. However, artificially inducing genetic manipulation through genetic engineering takes significantly less time and offers the advantage of selecting only desirable traits, even between organisms that cannot naturally interbreed. This method is called genetic engineering.
GMO stands for ‘Genetically Modified Organism,’ which can be interpreted in Korean as ‘유전적으로 변형된 생물체’ (genetically modified organism). Genes contain information about an organism’s unique characteristics, which are passed on to the next generation. All living things possess genes, which are the units of genetic information. Genes within cells contain the information necessary to produce important proteins for life processes and are composed of DNA. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) involve manipulating parts of these genes, inserting useful genes into other organisms to express specific traits.
Methods for creating GMOs include the ‘Agrobacterium-mediated method’ and the ‘protoplast transformation method’. The Agrobacterium-mediated method utilizes the bacterium ‘Agrobacterium’. This bacterium is a soil bacterium that causes crown gall disease in plants, transferring genes to the plant’s chromosomes to form a mass of tumor cells. Researchers remove the tumor-causing gene from this bacterium’s genome, link in a useful gene, and then contact plant cells to transfer the gene. Culturing the modified plant cells results in the growth of plants with altered genetic traits. The gene gun method involves coating useful genes onto metal particles (gold, tungsten, etc.) and then firing them into plant cells using high-pressure gas. This method allows genes to be introduced directly into the chromosomes of plant cells. Additionally, there is microinjection for modifying animal genes. This method involves injecting minute quantities of material into animal zygotes.
Genetically modified foods have been commercially available since 1993, and their scope has significantly expanded over the past two decades. Currently, pest-resistant corn and herbicide-resistant soybeans are mass-produced in the Americas. GMOs now account for 70% of the world’s soybeans and 30% of corn. Notably, over 90% of soybeans produced in the United States are GMO varieties. However, concerns persist that genetically modified foods could harm human health. Indeed, research published in France suggested GM corn might damage rats’ livers and potentially cause cancer. Yet, French government agencies and the European Food Safety Authority rejected the paper, citing the small number of test rats and the use of rats prone to cancer. Ultimately, the paper was retracted.
People feel aversion to the very act of genetic modification and harbor a vague anxiety that genetically modified foods might cause problems. Those opposing GMO development argue that the safety of genetically modified foods has not been clearly proven. They contend that the foods we eat must have their safety proven over a long period of time. Opponents argue that “genetically modified foods have no side effects” has not been proven over the long term, and that new substances could have serious effects on the human body. However, this is incorrect. As mentioned earlier, GMOs have developed over more than 20 years, and particularly in the United States, people have consumed these grains for two decades without showing any significant adverse reactions. Furthermore, modern society is an era of cutting-edge science. During this period, thorough safety testing has been conducted, so genetically modified foods approved for use can be considered safe.
Furthermore, opponents claim that the cost of purchasing genetically modified seeds increases the burden on consumers. It is true that developing genetically modified foods is costly. However, this enables the creation of plants resistant to climate change and pests, leading to increased crop yields. Pesticide use decreases, farm labor costs are reduced, and farm income improves. This ultimately benefits consumers as well. Therefore, the claim of increased consumer burden is incorrect. In fact, research also indicates a lack of scientific evidence regarding the harmfulness of GMOs. A decade-long study on biotech crops, funded by the European Union, demonstrated the safety of genetically modified foods and showed their potential for future acceptance in the food sector. This study is noteworthy as it represents the European Union’s official recognition of the safety of GMO foods.
According to the UN Population Division, the world population is projected to reach 8.6 billion by 2025. Developing countries, in particular, are the primary drivers of global population growth. This population increase will exacerbate the global food crisis. While the population continues to grow, global grain production is expected to decline. Global warming is causing a sharp decline in grain production in South Asia, and China has already become a major food importer, purchasing enormous quantities of grain. If the populations of China and India suffer from grain shortages, the amount of grain supplied to the global market could also become insufficient.
One solution to this food shortage problem is developing new varieties through genetic modification. Genetic modification can create plants that adapt well to abrupt climate changes and develop grains resistant to high temperatures and drought. It can also produce crops resistant to pests. In fact, pest-resistant genetically modified crops have been developed. This involves introducing a protein (Bt protein) that kills the larvae of specific pests, and it is safe for human consumption. GM foods produced through these processes increase grain yields and stabilize food prices. Price stabilization provides opportunities for developing and underdeveloped countries to access sufficient nutrition. It is precisely for this purpose that biotechnology-based GM foods are being developed.
The benefits of GM foods extend beyond increased production. Like ‘Golden Rice’ with its high vitamin A content, it enables the development of foods nutritionally superior to conventional ones. This is positive because it allows more nutrients to be provided from the same amount of food. Furthermore, genetically modified microorganisms with excellent environmental purification capabilities can be developed to decompose, remove, and absorb environmental pollutants, thereby contributing to environmental conservation.
Currently, genetic modification technology is being used in various fields beyond food development. It is applied to produce environmentally friendly and economically viable products in multiple sectors, including bio-chemical products for low-carbon green growth, bioenergy, and bio-pharmaceuticals for personalized treatments. Bio-pharmaceuticals require highly sophisticated technology, and the added value they generate is beyond imagination. Bio-pharmaceuticals can treat incurable diseases and are also used as anti-cancer agents like interferon. However, mass production remains challenging with current technological capabilities. If technology advances to enable the affordable mass production of biopharmaceuticals, many patients suffering from incurable diseases could benefit.
Genetic engineering technology sparks significant controversy, with arguments for and against sharply divided. Yet one undeniable fact remains: the era of genetic modification cannot be reversed. While genetically modified foods are subjects of debate regarding safety and ethics, they are undeniably an unavoidable technology for addressing population growth and ensuring survival.
