Ethical Concerns in Development, Research and Consumption of Genetically Engineered Crops
The commercial application of genetically modified (GM) crops has been one of the major developments of science in the past two decades. Its large-scale proliferation has been driven by lower pesticide costs, higher yields and enhanced nutritional values. Lack of tangible research, however, has brought forth several ethical concerns over the ultimate contribution of this technology. This paper presents the potential benefits and risks associated with GM crops while exploring the various ethical concerns ranging from environmental and economic impacts to consumption of the GM crops. Furthermore, it sheds light onto the extent of research carried out to assess the biosafety of such products and addresses the issues of responsibility raised due to the development and production of GM crops.
Keywords: genetic engineering, genetically engineered crops, biotechnology, ethics, biosafety