I don't see anything wrong with the concept of manipulating genes in cultivated crops. But like all technology, the value and morality of such practices depend on the intentions of the people applying them and their wisdom or ignorance, as well as their caution. Hybrid corn is an excellent model of how plant breeding can be put to good use to feed people . So, if you're developing fruits and vegetables that taste better and are more nutritious, that's probably a good thing. But if you're producing hard, square tomatoes that pack more easily and ship long distances, that's not so good.
Some biotechnology companies say they are aiming to reduce the use of pesticides in agriculture.
A concern is that widespread use of such biotechnology could stimulate insects to develop resistance to a very important pest-reduction tool of organic farmers, who now use these bacteria in place of chemical pesticides on some crops. Then there are cases where chemical companies are developing crops that can tolerate a particular herbicide or pesticide that normally would kill those plants. These companies say their chemicals are less toxic than the usual products used on the crop, but I'm not so sure they're benign. And, in the end, we're not actually reducing pesticide use by replacing one product with another. Finally, there is the worry that an allergen may be introduced into a genetically engineered crop.