GM crops were first produced to combat food shortages caused by rising fuel prices and diversion of land to grow biofuel instead of food crops as well as droughts in Australia, one of the world's main producers of wheat. These genetically modified plants were more pest-resistant and offered higher yields than their natural counterparts. The introduction of these transgenic plants was expected to increase the overall yield per acre of farmed land.
A new batch of genetically modified rice developed by Japanese scientists to combat cedar pollen allergies is currently under development. Cedar pollen allergy is a common ailment which affects over 20 percent of the Japanese population. However, unlike the GM products introduced previously, this 'new generation' of GM food, such as the anti-allergy rice mentioned before carries a more direct effect on human health. Examples of these transgenic foods include vegetables and grains that produce higher levels of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. As groundbreaking as this may seem however, this anti-allergy rice still has to undergo more research and testing before finding its way into the global market.
Though the advantages of GM food are obvious, many in the general population are still sceptical as the long-term effects of consuming GM products are still unknown.
Posted by Jonathan Ting (42019767)
Original article: http://www.livescience.com/health/090627-gm-rice.html
