Should Genetically Modified Foods Be Included As a Part of The Human Diet and Food Industries in Australia?

Seminar paper from the year 2010 in the subject Biology - Diseases Health Nutrition grade: 13 University of the Sunshine Coast Queensland language: English abstract: The development of genetically modified (GM) or transgenic foods promises another agricultural revolution producing more and high-quality food to feed the growing world population (Uzogara 2000). Within a rather short period of time genetic modifying has evolved from basic science to commercial applications (Engel Frenzel & Miller 2002). According to recent statistics (ISAAA 2009) transgenic crops are cultivated in 25 countries on a hectarage of approximately 134 million hectares an 80-fold increase compared to 1999. However their introduction into the human food supply activated an apparently never ending debate about safety potential risk and ethical concerns (FSANZ 2005; Better Health Channel 1999). According to Trojanowicz Latoszek and Poboźy (2010) the sources of these controversies can be related to consumer suspicions regarding the true intentions of biotechnological producers and mistrust in government bureaucracies. The aim of this literature review is to analyse current scientific research about GM foods with regard to the question whether GM food should be introduced in Australia or not. Part 1 includes a definition of GM foods and a description of current commercialized GM crops worldwide. The second part provides an overview of possible advantages and disadvantages concerning GM foods. Therefore it identifies the main groups which profits from GM crops. This review ends with a conclusion and a definition of the author's position concerning the controversial issue of including GM foods as part of the Australian diet and food industries.