Contreversial Issues of GM Foods #1 - Environmental Concerns

One of the risks is the risk of GM foods to the environment. With the production of GM crops that reduces the use of herbicides due to their resistance to certain herbicides, there is an increase in the growth of weeds that are now resistant to the herbicides too. This can cause many future environmental problems for farmers in the future such as increase use of herbicides which could eventually lead to water and soil contamination. 

Besides this, another disadvantage that has arisen due to GM foods is pesticide resistant insects. Insects would overcome whatever pesticides used and in this case it is the BT toxins produced by GM crops.

It seems that large scale growth of GM crops can affect the balance of biodiversity, wildlife and also the environment as it may alter the whole life cycles of thing, such as the unintentional poisoning of species of insects that are ecologically beneficial to the plants. Not only that, animals that depend on this insects as food would also be affected this could result in major loss of fauna biodiversity. 

 Lina