Record Details
Ethical Considerations of Transgenic Biotechnology as a Tool to Address Global Food Insecurity: Implementation and Regulation in Developing Countries
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Ethical Considerations of Transgenic Biotechnology as a Tool to Address Global Food Insecurity: Implementation and Regulation in Developing Countries |
| Names |
Stepper, Shelby Ann
(creator) Strauss, Steven (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 2014-05-22 (iso8601) |
| Note | Honors Bachelor of Arts (HBA) |
| Abstract | Transgenic biotechnology holds enormous potential as a tool to address global food insecurity. Transgenic food crops have been shown to increase food availability and food system security by incorporating disease, pesticide and drought resistance. Production costs of transgenic crops are lower due to the reduced need for costly pesticides and manual tillage, leaving more disposable income for farmers to buy food. Biofortified and nutritionally enriched transgenic crops may be able to reduce vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies. Despite the many promising applications of transgenic food crops in developing countries, many governments have raised major objections to the utilization of transgenic food production and have resisted transgenic crop adoption. The majority of these objections appear to be rooted in societal values, economics related to trade, and ethical principles, not biophysical science. My analysis of the current regulatory system suggests that ethical considerations regarding transgenic food crops are best addressed as part of local regulations rather than incorporated in global trade restrictions. I argue that while there is no silver bullet for solving world hunger, the utilization and responsible regulation of biotechnology could meaningfully contribute its reduction. |
| Genre | Thesis |
| Topic | Transgenic biotechnology |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/52069 |
