Japan should cultivate more genetically modified food by Yuriko H

Various kinds of genetically modified food (GM food) is cultivated all over the world. According to an article entitled, "The planted area in the world" on the web site of Monsanto Japan, in 2011, the cultivation area of GM food in the world reached 160 million hectares and GM food is cultivated in 29 countries. In Japan, some GM food such as soy beans, maize, rapeseed, and cotton are distributed. These crops are mainly cultivated in the USA, Brazil, and Argentina, but they are not cultivated in Japan commercially. In my opinion, Japan should cultivate more GM crops. There are two reasons. First, GM food will help to solve the food problem due to the population explosion in the world. Second, if we can develop GM food containing rich nutrition, it can be good for our health.

First, according to a table entitled, "The change of the world population" on the web site of the Ministry of Public Management, in 2011, the population in the world reached about 7 billion and it is said the population will reach about 9.3 billion. Now, some people can have sumptuous meal. While some people cannot get enough food because of the food shortage that is caused by population explosion so many people die of starvation. At the present time, the GM crops that yield better than ordinary crops are developed and cultivated in the world. They are expected to solve the food problem due to the population explosion. However they are not cultivated commercially in Japan. I think if Japan cultivates more GM crops, it could help starving people to eat enough food. Second, the GM food that has an enriched nutritive value is cultivated. For example rice which contains more vitamins. In the GM food, the gene that is high in nutrition is incorporated. So we can take more nutrition when we eat the GM food. Consequently we can get enough nutrition from GM food efficiently, and it can be good for our health.

Therefore, I think Japan should cultivate more GM crops. It is because GM food will help to solve the food problem and GM food containing rich nutrition can be good for our health. However it is difficult to put GM food to practical use, I hope GM food will be able to be very useful in our life someday.

References

Monsanto Japan. Retrieved 3 February 2013 from http://www.monsanto.co.jp/data/plantarea.html

Monsanto Japan. Retrieved 3 February 2013 from http://www.monsanto.co.jp/data/countries.html

The Ministry of Public Management. Retrieved 14 February 2013 from http://www.stat.go.jp/data/sekai/02.htm