There were pesticides. And there was an idea to make plants produce their own pesticides. It looked cheaper and it is cheaper. The price of production is something, which big corporation try to lower through genertical engineering. But originally, before the big bosses spoke, there were much noble thoughts to carry out.
GMO in a Good Light
Healthy Pigs
Pigs create a lot of fat, which is bad for humans. At least, current science considers this particular fat to be bad. A new breed of pigs was created and this one produces healthy omega 3 fatty acids, which many people have insufficient intake of.
However, over 2 thousand years ago, a new breed of cows developed. To this day, most people don't even know, there is A1 and A2 milk, which both contain a different moleculas of casein. One of them doesn't bind a dangerous toxin on 40 to 50 amino acid (I don't remember exact number).
Minefield Searching Plant
Countries like Afghanistan used to be constantly at conflict. American minefield just borders on the Soviet one. Even though, most mines are removed, a lot remain in nature too. A new kind of weed could be used to hunt them down. Mines release nitrogen and nitric chemicals a lot. If a plant growing in the are changed the color, when it is nearby to these fields, it would tremendously help the people. It would be better mark than a colored stone.
Unfortunately, it would take years till it grows all over such countries. So the point of the plant is ***.
Survival Partner - a New Biondicator
Bioindicators are, just for example, species which are unable to survive in toxic areas. They require clean air and clean water. Or something else. All amphibians have troubles surviving in the places, where the toxic air is, because they breathe all toxic material through the skin and it causes a disaster in them. Nettle grows only in acidic soil...
A gene making species indicate various things can be implemented into their genom. After some certain time, we might lose the knowledge of what some certain signs mean. Such thing happened in one hospital, where the obsolete sign of radiation was not recognized (sorry for forgetting the name and country, yep it sounds strange). A radiation-sensitive cats could help us at this point. But first and foremost, we should be careful and avoid frequent changing of signs.
Minefield searching weed in the previous paragraph is also such a biondicator.
Enriched Rice for The Poor
We have enough food to feed all. It is just not in the corporate interests to sell in African countries, which do have very weak currencies. As they feed on rice, which can be harvested up to 6 time every year, they do have defficiency of several vitamins. The rice can be forced to produce some vitamins it does not need by itself. It might help to the poor countries to some extent.
Why Do We See Only Bad GMOs?
I say genetic modification if a progress. But it is held by the wrong people. All these ideas above are far better than the examples, which really do occur and are harmful to our health. Just to name a few popular modifications: increase of resistance to herbicides, making crops to produce pesticides of their own, increase of tolerance to heat, cold, or drought, ressource yield. Two of four popular modifications are directly harmful to the mankind.
As long as the corporate interests come first and foremost, there will be no interest in a good use of the technologies. Money is what drives current world. But, and it has to be said, if a plant produces its own pesticide on a natural basis, it might be a bit better than if it is poured on them from the air. Lesser amount might be used.
Conclusion
Genetic modifications we witness are done with malevolence. It is not right to blame the technology for it. It is corporate interests and politicians, who are not able to tie their hands, so they can do no evil. Knives can also be used for slicing a carrot and to kill. Electricity can also be used to cook you a good meal or to electrify prisoners. Oh no! UN has banned torturing. So the politicians can do something about it and I believe they should.
Another reason I just want to remind is, there is no long-term scientific study projecting the possible future impact of GMOs. The independent studies usually speak badly of it. It goes without saying what a bad move could do to the ecosystem. Only-money-minding businesspeopl won't hesitate to do a bad move if they get money for it. They see it as a good move!
Just one more paragraph to bust a myth. Genetic modification is not any new kind of intervention to the natural order. Breeding came a long before. Good farmers were always choosing the seeds from the biggest plant. Not these, which seemed to be the strongest to survive in nature. Therefore, if you are point-blank against genetic engineering and you want to argue it is and intervention, you are also against breeding.
Mine opinion is to research new technologies. But not for the corporate interests. For the people first and foremost and always!