Europe’s Regions Demand `Power-Sharing` over GMO Crop Decision Essay

One of the issues being faced by the food and health authorities not only in Europe but worldwide is related to Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs.   The discovery of Genetically Modified Organisms has created enough waves not only in the scientific but also in the trade and social dynamics in the present era.   It had been the subject of social and scientific studies to determine both the benefits and the possible harm that it can brought about to the consumers. Primarily, the benefits that GMOs offer has enlighten the scientific world due to the fact that it involves the utilization of the genetic processes that were scientifically established.   It involves manipulative changes in the genetic make-up of an organism. These modifications or alterations in the systems of most crops and also animals enhance their ability to better survive in most environments.   Some of the genetically modified products are medicines, vaccines, foods and crops.   The main focus of the study is in relation to the GMOs in crop production and the benefits and disadvantages that it can brought about to the society and the surroundings as a whole (US Department of Energy Office of Science, 2004). In terms of the crops and crop production, GMOs have proposed benefits such as in relation to the palatability of the product.   Based on the study it improves the flavour of the food when eaten.   Another is in terms of the time of harvest GMOs can shorten the turn about time of the cycle of growth.     Thus, the profit generated from the production can be achieved at a shorter period of time which is beneficial to the farmers and the agricultural sector.   The GMOs are also can withstand ailments through their development. This can be equated to higher yield in farming which is also a positive effect to agriculture.   Aside from the abilities of the crops to grow in hard conditions it also lead to the development of new farming practices and methods (US Department of Energy Office of Science, 2004).   With regards to the social attributes the production of GMOs aims to alleviate the shortage in the food supplies and to fill in the market for the sources of products in the trade industries.   This can also mean that the scarcity in terms of the sources of nourishment can be eliminated.   Solutions to this problem can help a larger part of the society. In as much as it can offer these benefits, issues on GMOs arise.   This includes issues regarding different facets of the society, in relation to safety and health of the people, the basis of eligibility of use, the moral and the social aspects.   With regards to any technology introduced in the market, the primary issue reiterated is the security of the consumer in using such product.   Doubts regarding the possible effects of these products when taken in by the population were the major concern. Health hazards are being considered, thus, studies regarding this field are being conducted to established knowledge that can protect the public.   The possible effects in the environment are one of the concerns with regards to the production of these GM crops.   When these crops are grown and reproduced, the succeeding generations of these crops will then have the same altered genetic makeup.   In this case the ecological dynamics of the environmental system will be altered and the possible effects to other organisms will still have to be studied (US Department of Energy Office of Science, 2004; Atherton, 2002).   Having dim and unknown areas in the feasibility of use gives doubt to groups in the society. Due to the fact that the advent of the GMO crops is one of the scientific technologies of our time, questions in the production and use of these products are included in the major concerns of the population.   Like any other technology that is present in the society, it is mainly the industrialised and developed nations with the capability to for the purchase and even production of these GMO crops can use the technology, thus, leaving the developing countries lagging behind in the production of such products with high potential of manipulating the market and trade in particular. The possible effects again include the increased need for these countries for support from the established nation.   One of the supports that can be given by these developed nations is providing the most needed jobs which can be production.   This happens in most cases that the developing countries are the main site of production of large companies in the developed countries.   This causes harm to the resources of the developing nation due to the fact that they serve as the location of manufacture, thus, also wastes (US Department of Energy Office of Science, 2004). The issues related to ethics are another important aspect that is being affected by the production of GMO crops.   This is mainly involved in the interference in the natural conditions of the organism, specifically the crops.   In this case, the natural potential of the crops are not preserved.   This process of altering the genetic makeup of the organisms is beneficial in some aspects, but it is important to consider that the organisms are made with the balance of the positive and the negative traits. In this view, without the balance there would also be changes in the environment.   One issue which is related also caused these changes in the ecosystems is the fact that in most countries that propagate these GMO crops does not promulgate rules with regards to separating the GMO crops with the normal crops.   In this case the transfer of genes by reproduction is not regulated creating a different breed with unknown effects and that can out grow the ordinary crops (US Department of Energy Office of Science, 2004). Due to the fact that the production of GMO crops can propagate profits because of higher yield, the developed nations have increased interest in this technology.   In relation to the increasing effect of GMOs in the society, different advocacies arise with regards to the position that this technology and its potentials.   Most of the organisations move for the equal chances of the GMOs and quality agricultural products in the market.   This most specifically occurs in the European region. They demanded for the right to take part in the resolution of problems and issues in relation to the production and distribution of the GMO product specifically crops.   Due to the fact that GMOs are capable of mass production because of the benefits that was discussed earlier, they have more power in the market as compared to the traditional and natural crops that are produced.   There had been an increasing distribution of GMOs due to the promotion conducted by developed countries but most European countries on the other hand are promoting GMO-free regions. The organisations that are actively moving for the solutions of issues regarding GMOs are the Assembly of European Regions and Friends of the Earth Europe.   Their movement is on the basis of the realized need of the European nation to have equal chances and competition with the GMOs.   This is in relation to the fair competition between genetically modified crops, conventional crops and products of organic farming.   Even other countries are posing for the termination of distribution of GMOs in their respective nations. The main objective of these organizations includes the protection of the environments and every components of the ecosystem.   The in-depth study of the possible effects of the technologies introduced in the public is another concern of these groups.   Upon the study of these effects, the safety of the population and the ways of maintaining security is another.   Objectives of these groups also include the continuous promotion and propagation of the traditional non-GMO crops.   This ensures that the trade of the European products with less competition from the GMOs will propagate.   The production of the genetically modified crops also affected the economy and the market dynamics in Europe, thus, one aim of these advocacies is to prevent any detrimental effect of these products to the progress on the country’s farming industries that receive the hardest blow.    Also, through the participation of the countries in the European region, the organization aim for counteracting the effects of pollution such as pesticides by having the responsible groups to pay for the damage incurred and even the possible profits for the harvest of the crops grown in the conventional way.   The freedom to decide the target market of the crops produced is another aim of the advocacy of these groups.   With this includes the decision making process in the methods to be applied in the propagation of the traditional crops.   This process includes the freedom to deter the growing and farming of GMO crops. And lastly is the determination and safeguarding of sources of crops that are grown.   The seeds that are distributed be identified to be able to separate the GMO and the non-GMO crops.   These objectives deem to lessen if not fully eliminate the propagation of the GMO crops in the market (Friends of the Earth Europe, 2005).   Also, the creation of a unified system is to be able to give reactions to the issues being faced by the European nations.   Having representation for every nation and country in the European nation will enable a faster communication and consensus regarding matters related to the safety, quality of products distributed to the population and the effects in the national economy and that for the whole region. Based on the objectives of the movement the movements that advocate the termination of GMO crop production, there has been a case filed in the WTO regarding issues on GMO.   This is on the bases of the following notions.   First is the request for the increase in the capacity of the consumers to decide on the products that would be purchased.   In relation to this, it is important that the variety of products is available in the market.   In cases wherein the GMO crops have higher yield, it can be related to a higher availability in the market.   This shows an increase responsibility that is given to the consumers to decide on their own. Another notion is the establishment of a main body and authority that can regulate the dynamics that is related to the production and propagation of GMO crops in the market.   In this case, the aside from the responsibility given to the population to decide on their own, there is a standard organization that can show the way to the public and help them in the establishment of the choices that they are making regarding the products, specifically the food supply (Sem, & Andersen, 2003).   It has been viewed that the assault that the US addressed to the EU is on the basis of taking the side of science or the technological view with regards to control in the decision making process on issues relating to GMO crops (Toke, 2004). The trend in the society with regards to the introduction of technologies is based mainly in the scientific field.   In this matter, it can be supposed that scientific decision making process has a great influence in the dynamics of the market processes.   In this matter, a great control of the factors that affect the society can be attributed to science.   This has certain disadvantages because the process in science is mainly based on knowledge that is continuously developing, thus, greater and comprehensive study must be conducted in the introduction of new discoveries in the population, such as GMO crops.   This on the basis, that these products affect every aspect of the society and human being (Lafond, 2001). The decision making process in relation to the scientific technologies such as the production of GMOs can be included in the trend that is occurring in the society with regards to the shifting of the problems in the science being related to politics.   This is exhibited by the need for in organization of the sectors involved in the issues on GMOs.   The position being played by science in the issues of GM crops is in relation to the shifting of the importance of science to the influence in political issues in the society.   The nations in the European nations are seeking to be included in the decision making process regarding GMOs. This can be related to the notion that the dispersion of these products is being conducted by powerful factions and organizations in the society, thus, they seek to have a more democratic decision making process wherein they can participate.   They view on the need for the deregulation of the power of science to introduce technologies on the basis of the possible danger that it can brought about to the population. On the other hand, an opposing notion fights for the position of science as an authority in projects that can benefit the people.   Some on the other hand view, that there cannot be a demarcation that can set the issues straight on the basis of just pro and against the GMO technology.   As any other technology applied and being used by the population, it involves a complex interplay of the different factors such as the effects in the society, in governance, in the trade and commercial aspects and most importantly in the cultural aspects that defined the norm of the people (Toke, 2004). In issues such as this which involves the feasibility of a technological discovery for use by the general population, it is important to consider every possible effect on all aspects of the society.   This is due to the fact that once the knowledge such as the cultivation and proliferation of GMO crops in the society.   There is no turning back.   It can alter every aspect that includes every the genetic composition of the every organism and even human. Based on comparative study on the propagation of the GMO technology in the US and EU it was determined that there are certain factors that affect the differences in the decisions regarding the issue.   One reason is the differences in the view of the two regions regarding the issue.   The US policies are basically more on the promotion of the technological advances in their region while on the other hand the EU deemed that the outlook of the cooperating nations, sectors and population is important with regards to the standardization and use of such technologies.   Another factor is the differences in the impact of the environmental effects to these two regions. The environmental issues of any introduced technology have greater effects to the leaders of the EU as compared to US.   Another important factor is the occurrence of the crisis of BSE that lead to the establishment of the European Food Authority.   With this occurrence, the European region had been determined to prevent another occurrence of a major crisis that will affect the health of the population (Lafond 2001).   Another factor that can be attributed to the non-GMO propagation in the European region is the importance that is being given to the quality of the crops that are being produced in the market.   This is based on cultural aspects of the people and the norms that are set in the region (Toke, 2004). In the move to have a fair consideration with regards to the matters concerning the GMO crops, the Council of the European Communities advices two scenarios.   It is either the termination of the propagation of the GMO crops or their purposeful distribution in the surroundings.   The dispersal of the GMO crops is conducted to be the basis of the research process that will follow. The results of the study will serve as the basis for the decisions regarding GMOs.   This is the case although is divergence in the objectives of the different sectors of the society (Szczepanik, 1993).   This is only one of the possible ways of participating in the decision process regarding the issues in the society specifically that related to the food industry which can greatly affect the health of the population. With regards to any issues in the society, it is an important consideration that there exists an organization that will serve as an authority in the decision making process related to the application of any technology in the society.   Although this is the case, the representation of the different sectors of the society is essential to be able to give the possible effects in relation to their respective regions. The consensus of the member nations is important in such an organization.   The establishment of this organization needs the cooperation of the nations in the European region.   Based on the cases studied though, these region works for a GMO-free nation, thus, the movement that is needed to be made is regarding data gathering that can support the notion that was chosen. The consciousness of the society and the leaders of every nation that belongs in the European Union is important in the establishment and decision making not only in issues regarding the genetically modified organisms but also in other issues that can arise that may endanger the safety of the public and the nature as well.   Thus, cooperation is detrimental in the process. References Atherton, K. (2002) Genetically modified crops  : Assessing safety.   London  : Taylor & Francis. Friends of the Earth Europe (2006) The genetic contamination organic agriculture in Europe.   Biotech Mailout. Friends of the Earth Europe (2005) Safeguarding sustainable European agriculture. Assembly of European Regions.   Available from  : [Accessed 15 June 2006] Lafond, F.   (2001) The creation of European Food Authority  : Institutional implications of risk regulation.   European Issues, 10. Lafond, F.   (2005) Towards a European bioethics policy? 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