A proposed benefit of GM foods is that they can potentially produce higher crop yields, which could help by feeding

more people in developing countries. They are also cited as more economical, despite the initial higher cost of the seeds. The rationale is that they reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides as well as reducing the manpower needed to successfully grow the crops, which should translate into improved financial gains. Improved food quality is another benefit associated with GM foods. A tomato, for instance, can be engineered to stay fresher for longer, thereby extending its shelf life in the supermar et. !et another benefit that is believed to occur from GM technology is that crops can be engineered to withstand weather fluctuations and extremes. This means that they can provide sufficient yields and quality despite a severe, poor weather season. Another benefit is that GM foods can be engineered to have a high content of a specific nutrient that is lac ing in the diet of a local population group. The vitamin A rich "golden rice" is one example of a GM food that has been engineered to have high levels of a nutrient. #y genetically modifying foods, technologists can insert the gene from one organism into another organism that does not normally carry that gene. The organism"s genes may be sourced from one or more other organisms, depending on the desired effects. $ne example is the use of bacteria. If a specific ind of bacteria had a protein that could eliminate the larvae from insects, the use of genes from this bacteria into a crop can mean that the crop has a natural resistance to that insect. In this way, farmers can reduce costs and improve crop yields by handling pests without having to use toxic pesticides and herbicides.

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Genetically modifying foods is done by inserting a gene from one organism into another, an example could be taking a gene from a bacteria, which would give this plant resistance to the crop and inserting it into a crop. The normal breeding methods can also be very unpredictable and slow process, GM crops ensure a efficient and guaranteed product production , they also ensure that the desired characteristics are passed from generation to generation. Genetically modifying the pplant can also can also increase the shelf life of products. As well as help plants grow in unfavourable conditions. GM crops can also have a great benefit for health, for example golden rice! is being grown so it can produce "eta carotene, this can produce vitamin A, this is done by inserting a gene from a bacteria and two gene from a daffodil, this is a vitamin that can help to prevent blindness to people who have #itamin A deficiencies. $ow currently there are half a million children who go blind from this vitamin A deficiency and a further %&& million who have this deficiency image how many children!s sight could be saved. The rice is also being developed so there is an increase in iron content, a deficiency in iron can cause anaemia during pregnancy, this is a factor that causes %'(th of maternal deaths in Asia and Africa. This is especially important as in many )rd world countries rice is the staple diet so this could help massively. Another example is that a fruit such as an apple is being genetically modified to carry a vaccine against a virus that causes childhood pneumonia. *educe damage caused by pesticides on the wildlife, also less use of pesticide, will mean that the water can also be kept clear as it can prevent leaching. +lants can be made resistant to fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases. Genetically engineered plants have also helped in cleaning up pollution an example is that poplar trees are being used to clean up heavy metal pollution from soil.