The Debate Over Biotechnology

Biotechnology involves the implanting of genes in foods. Ick, right? Maybe not. Even though enlarging tomatoes for pure appearance is wrong, biotechnology is solving food crisis all over the world. Did you know that 1/6 of the world's population lives on less than a dollar a day. 300 million children go to bed hungry each night because they don't have the money for food. Biotechnology is a lot cheaper because it matures faster and can grow in lots of climates. One such example is "Golden Rice". Golden Rice is fortified with vitamin A. Many children in southeast Asia have vitamin A defiency which causes blindness. Golden Rice is changing that. Another type of rice is helping to solve chronic malnuitrition in China.
Biotechnology is also easier on the earth. In Georgia they are developing a cotton crop that can grow in semi-arid climates. This would save 12 billion gallons of water annually. Biotechnology resistant to dieases helped to save 80% of this year's African sweet potato crop. There is also less pesticide use and affects on ecosystems.


If you want more info on biotechnology check out the Human Genome Project.

-Hollytreetear