2. Basic Information
GM soybean is one of the most widely planted genetically
modified plants in the world today. The GM soybean,
otherwise called as the Roundup Ready (RR) soybean,
was developed by the biotech giant Monsanto and made
it commercially available to farmers in 1996. It was
developed to make the plant survive being sprayed on
with the non-selective herbicide, Roundup, which can kill
conventional soybean plants.
3. Uses
What makes GM soybean an important crop is that its
many by products are being used in the manufacture of
other food products. Soy is widely used worldwide to feed
livestock. Soybeans as feed provide the protein needed by
livestock to grow. Soybeans also find their way into oil mills
where the oil is extracted and further refined for edible use.
Other byproducts coming from soybeans are processed to
become essential food ingredients and additives. Most
processed foods today may likely have a soy byproduct as
an ingredient in one way or another.
4. Positive Impacts
-pests cant eat the plants which in turn
saves more crops
-because more crops are available more
soybean bi-products can be produced which
helps the economy
5. Negative Impacts
-unsure of how it will affect us in the future
-some people don't like the fact that its GM
in general
-pests may become resistant to the GM
soybeans and continue to use natural
selection to eat the crops
6. Our Position
We think that GM soybeans should be
controlled a bit more than they are. If they
aren't continuously tested they could
potentially become dangerous to our health
without us being informed of it.
