Why are GM foods produced?
A number of advantages can be encountered when using GMO's, but mostly it is a smaller price, with bigger benefits/supposedly better products. While the consumer have lower prices to pay, the farmers believed that using GMOs would help them make more money while in reality, they are hindering what traits nature had selected, which was growing larger towards a better product. The original reason for GMO's was to improve crop production, but now farmers are seeing that it may have drawbacks.
What is the Church's point of view?
As of now, the church silently supports GMO's although it is slightly controversial. In 2009, a leaked cable stated that the Vatican officials actually largely supported them, referring to Pope Benedict's speech at the world food security summit. For now, the Church is slowly trying to show more support toward biotechnologies and is also trying to get others to support this technology as well.
Are GMO foods safe?
A very important question, and the answer, yes. No significant disease or health conditions have been linked to foods yet so there is no shown risk. However, animals who have eaten GMOs have shown many issues such as liver problems, sterility, etc.
What further elements will future GMO's bring?
Future GM organisms are likely to include plants with improved disease or drought resistance, crops with better nutrient levels, and allergy-free properties.
What happens when GM foods are traded internationally?
No specific international regulatory system is in place at the moment, although there are organizations out there trying to get it started because it could make a large profit.
How is a risk assessment performed for the environment?
The assessment includes evaluation of GM characteristics, the effect and the stability, combined with ecological characteristics of the environment. It also includes unintended results which could be caused by putting in a new gene.
What are the environmental risks?
There are several risks. One, the engineered crops could become weeds themselves. Another is that crops engineered could produce viruses that spread and cause new disease towards plants. There are many other risks.
What are human health risks?
Allergenic. The transfer of genes from commonly allergenic foods is highly discouraged. No GM foods have been linked to allergies yet. But studies show that toxins may develop as well as allergies to organic foods.