Be it resolved that Genetically Modified (GM) agriculture is beneficial to society.*

Very well, I accept your definition. . I would firstly like to thank my opponent for taking on this debate. I look forward to a constructive and engaging debate. In this round, I will proceed to first rebutt my opponent's points, then further expand on my previous introduction and add points on the flavour, health, and many consumer benefits of GM food products. . . =========== ===Rebuttals=== =========== My opponent first stated- "Fruits (such as pluots) which are a cross between two normal fruits are not genetically modified...This debases my opponent's contention regarding improved flavor." . Now, this statement was clearly a poorly researched one. What my opponent must understand is that grafting IS A FORM of genetic modification. During the process of grafting, plants transplant genes, and the transplantation of genes is genetic modification.[1] Futhermore, grafting does not even come close to the capablilties of today's genetic modification methods. "This debases my opponent's contention regarding improved flavor." So in conclusion, no. This does nothing to debase my contention at all. . ... . My opponent has also stated- "...The risks of GM food are still unknown..." . This is a subjective statement. You have to realize that 45% of US corn, and 85% of US soybeans are already grown with genetic modifications.[2] If we did not already have a solid understanding of the impacts that GM foods present, surely it would be outrageous for the US government to premit such a thing. . "...we have no way to know how dangerous it is..." This is also subjective. What my opponent has to understand is that GM foods have been on the market since the 1990's.[3]This would mean that someone like me has been consuming GM foods all my life. If fourteen years worth of exposure to GM food does not cause severe development defects, then this in itself is already STRONG evidence that GM food is not as dangerous as you would have us believe. Additionally, what my opponent also must realize is that GM foods are tested extensively before they arrive onto the commerical market. . "...But for the time being the risks outweigh the benefits..." This is also subjective and refuted by my previous points. . So in conclusion, all three of the statements above were completely subjective with no certifiable source, and therefore completely in my opponents opion. However the fact is that these statements were most likely made without a sufficient understanding of the GM process, and therefore easily refuted. . ... . My opponent has also stated- "My opponent's link speaks of corn enhanced with vitamins... My opponent has not stated any health or cost benefits, and I have refuted his flavor argument." . In response to that, I will proceed to state health and cost benefits this round, and additionally, you have not refuted my flavor argument. . ... . =========== ===Benefits=== =========== There are currently 124 million people in East-Asian countries suffering from Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD).[4] This is already being combatted with the instigation of what people refer to as "Golden Rice", which is rice with genes implanted from daffodils and bacterium. This leaves us with rice containing an abnormally large amount of Vitamin A.[5] This can be grown by VAD farmers, and comes at no cost to the consumer, whereas a vitamin supplement solution would only prove costly and unefficient. Thus, this is an example of the health benefits genetically modified foods can bring. ... The texture, flavour, and ripeness of, say a tomato, can also benefit with a slight modification of genes. Through genetic modification, the tomato can gain other desirable qualities from other fruits and vegetables, even from animals and bacteria. There are real life examples of this. For example, one version of the tomato with it's enzymes repressed will last longer without going soft. This strain of tomato is being produced in small batches around the world, and comes at virtually no expense to the consumer.[6] Is this not an example of genetically modified agriculture augmenting the flavour of such a product? ... Fieldcorn is another glowing GM success story. Among the 169x increase in beta carotene, 6x the vitamin C and 2x folate quantity, this GM corn is insect and virus resilent. Growing this type of corn minimizes the usage of costly pesticides, and this means that the corn itself costs less to raise, giving consumers a buying advantage. This strain of corn makes up 93% of commercially distributed corn in the US.[7] ... In conclusion, GM agriculture can provide the health, flavour, and cost advantages listed above, and has clear, tangible, beneficial positive consequences. Additionally, I have trusted sources for these positive consequences, backing up and giving and adding to the objectivity of my proposed benefits. . =========== ===Citations=== =========== [1] http://scienceblogs.com... [2]http://archive.centerforfoodsafety.org... [3]http://www.newscientist.com.... [4]http://en.wikipedia.org... [5]http://www.nature.com... [6].S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Biotechnology of Food. FDA Backgrounder: May 18, 1994. [7]Shaista Naqvi, et al. Transgenic multivitamin corn through biofortification of endosperm with three vitamins representing three distinct metabolic pathways PNAS April 27, 2009.