WHAT ARE WE GOING TO EAT IN THE FUTURE?

We need to know more about GM food


One salient point which was repeated in both reading 1 and 4 was that there is inadequate information on the GM food produced. Both writers propose that we should be educated from young on the process of bioengineering simply because that is probably what we are filling our stomachs with in the conceivable future. A simple question posted in class ' Do you know whether you are eating GM food?' has already dumbfounded us as the fact is we consumers just settle for cheap tasty food. However, in US, large GM companies such as Monsanto aren't doing their part in the form of not labeling their food. This has caused an uproar among Americans because this practice is actually a regulation in Europe and yet the American government is doing nothing about it thanks to some lobbying. I am personally guilty of being ignorant of GM food but this class has given me a bit of perspective into it.

We consumers are as guilty as the producers


Another talking point of the class was the presentation by Jesse on factory farming and the cruelties used to get 'results'. We've seen videos of force-feeding of geese, pigs living in a constrained space and 'super cows', they are disturbing indeed but are we prepared to give up our poultry or 'foie gras' to stop these cruelty? In the video we previously watch 'How stuff work', the presenter emphasized that the golden process is actually the consumption. Without the increasing demand, producers do not have to constantly 'innovate' ideas to increase their output to meet the demand. Simply put, what if we demand a little less everyday? Will that trigger a little less cruelty or unethical behaviour everyday too?

The possibilities are infinite for GM crop

Unlike other aspects of technology we have discussed in the previous weeks so far, bioengineering and biotechnology are the ones i personally feel have a feasible future. They has made feeding the masses a reality even with limited arable land. Not only that, scientists are also exploring the possibilities with GM crop such as using it for biofuel, bio-plastics and so on. As what Norman Borlaug mentioned in his article,
food insecurity can only be countered by bioengineering. My personal imagination is that we can actually select the nutrients such as vitamins,proteins our body are lacking and put in our food like how we order a Subway sandwich, I guess in that way we are able to live longer and healthier.

Are we the parasites?


Prof posted a video, which i find it highly interesting, which was humans being depicted as parasites. We often see science fiction movies about aliens hiding among us and how they plan to destroy our planet. This video does the exact opposite and instead we are these aliens and once we are done with Earth, we will eventually move on to another planet and use up their resources too. Just a food for thought i guess..