Problems of using GMOs in agriculture

. The article analyzes the problems of using GMOs in agriculture. Conclusions regarding the benefits and risks of using GMOs in agriculture are drawn based on existing scientific works. The main problem associated with the presence of gaps and information vacuum due to the lack of scientific research on GMOs and the specifics of their impact on plants and living organisms is highlighted. Some recommendations for solving the problems of using GMOs in agriculture are given.


Introduction
The problem of food security is global in nature nowadays.The world's population is gradually growing.Now it is already over 8 billion people.Based on UN data, about 2 billion people experience varying degrees of food insecurity.In percentage terms, this is over 26% of the total population of the globe [1].To combat the problem of hunger effectively, the resources of science and technology can be used.We are talking about biotechnological methods with the help of which it is possible to create varieties of agricultural crops [2].GMOs in agriculture are an opportunity to grow crops that are resistant to the negative influences of the external environment, and with a high level of yield.However, the consequences of using GMOs have not been studied at the moment.Accordingly, the use of GMOs "blindly" is associated with high risks.Thus, it is not clear whether GMOs affect human health; how such use might affect the soil, flora and fauna, especially in the long term.

Methods
To write this work, methods such as system analysis were used; generalization; systematization and comparison.Scientific works already available on this topic have been carefully analyzed.The results obtained were summarized and on this basis the author's conclusions.Recommendations on the research topic were developed.

Results and discussion
GMO stands for genetically modified organism.A genetically modified organism is an organism with a changed genotype.Moreover, changes are carried out artificially using methods developed by genetic engineering.Such targeted changes are made to significantly improve the properties of plants or microorganisms [3].Moreover, individual genes can be transmitted from a completely different organism, which is not even related.The purpose of such a modification, as already noted, is to significantly improve existing properties or to impart completely new characteristics to achieve their optimal combination.Thus, GMOs can be resistant to adverse environmental influences, for example: drought, pests, diseases, etc.That is, with the help of GMOs, it is possible to significantly increase productivity, and, at the same time, reduce production costs and shorten the production cycle.At first glance, the use of GMOs in agriculture is a promising direction, which in its development may not encounter any special problems [4].Moreover, if analyzing the specifics of the use of GMOs in agriculture more deeply, it is possible to find various problems.It is advisable to consider them in more detail below.
Due to the beneficial economic characteristics that GMOs have, it is possible to solve a number of problems that are often observed in the agricultural industry: shortage of agricultural land and water resources; deterioration of the ecological state of the environment; limited production capacity [5].At the same time, the use of GMOs is associated with serious risks.In particular, the following risks are implied:  GMOs can be aggressive and, accordingly, have a negative impact on human health and even the gene pool.For example, when the molecular structure of a plant is modified, it can cause allergies and diseases in the person who eats it;  the soil may suffer in the process of producing GMOs, as a large number of chemicals are used;  active use of GMOs can lead to uncontrolled gene transfer and depletion of species diversity of flora/fauna.That is, we are talking about the fact that GMO seeds/pollen can be transferred naturally (by birds, insects) to the wild.The diversity of traditional plant/animal varieties may also be significantly reduced; natural soil fertility will be disrupted;  "addiction" of the soil to GMOs and subsequent rejection of traditional crops.If safety rules are not followed when using GMOs, the integrity of natural ecological systems may be compromised.Relief, climate, soil, water, flora, fauna and people are very closely interconnected.Accordingly, if even one component is modified, the entire chain is disrupted, which ultimately can lead to complex, very serious disorders [6].
To date, there is still no consensus regarding the necessity and safety of using GMOs in agriculture.Researchers adhere to polar points of view: from the conviction of the need to introduce a complete ban on the use of GMOs to the position according to which the active use of GMOs is considered as one of the key options for the future development of the agricultural industry [7].
It seems that the main problem lies precisely in the fact that there is no uniform approach based on accounting and an objective assessment of all existing risks and existing advantages in the use of GMOs.
Let us consider in more detail the main arguments of supporters and opponents of the use of GMOs in agriculture.Thus, supporters give the following arguments:  "incorporation" of foreign DNA into the human genotype during the consumption of GMO products is hardly possible.Indeed, to date this fact has not been scientifically proven, but has not been studied with the necessary thoroughness;  -cheapness and economic safety of GMOs.It seems that this argument is an undeniable advantage of using GMOs in agriculture [8].Modified plants provide increased yields and, at the same time, their use makes it possible to significantly reduce mineral fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides, which negatively affect not only the soil, but also the human body with the further consumption of the corresponding products;  significant savings in territory, this is especially true for a number of regions where there is a shortage of land, as well as climate problems (drought or, on the contrary, prolonged cold);  for a number of GMOs, it is permissible to conduct thorough research that can prove the safety and harmlessness of further consumption.There are now about 2000 articles that provide evidence that GMOs do not pose a threat to human health [9].In addition, the following argument is quite common: ordinary food contains no less, and sometimes much more, harmful substances and additives (stabilizers, emulsifiers, antioxidants, growth hormones, etc.) [10].We can agree with this.However, the main problem is that there are huge gaps: there is no thorough scientific research on GMOs;  -increasing the level of food security -increasing yields helps reduce hunger, especially if we talk about third world countries [11].As for the arguments that opponents of GMOs make, they are as follows:  unpredictability of the impact of GMOs in the long term.Indeed, there are no detailed scientific studies on how GMOs can affect human health, flora and fauna;  uncontrollability of processes associated with GMOs.For example, pollen or seeds can spread to wildlife without human knowledge; so-called superweeds (harmful plants that develop resistance to means and methods of controlling them) and populations of pests that are resistant to conventional poisons may appear [12].In addition, there is a risk of irreversible extinction of some traditional plant varieties.All arguments have their place.We can partially agree with all of the above, both in favor of the use of GMOs (at least locally) and against their use [13].At the same time, as already noted, the main problem in today's situation is the lack of established scientific research on GMOs, as well as their impact on flora, fauna and human health.There are only fragmentary data, which are clearly insufficient to draw more specific and unambiguous conclusions about whether GMOs can be used, under what circumstances GMOs should be completely abandoned and what safety measures to apply [14].
For example, some researchers write that eating GMOs negatively affected the health of rats and their offspring, who were born weak, with various abnormalities, diseases and even mutations.But, in our opinion, the conclusion about the relationship between eating GMO foods and deteriorating health is hasty and poorly substantiated.Moreover, there is also directly opposite evidence that no negative effects of GMOs on living organisms have been identified.There is a significant information vacuum.Indeed, in order to draw such serious conclusions, scientific research is needed that lasts more than one decade with clearly established correlations [15].
Regarding the geography of the use of GMOs in agriculture, the situation is as follows: GMOs are grown in countries such as Brazil, Canada, South Africa, Australia, USA, Bolivia, Philippines, Spain, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Colombia, Honduras, Chile, Sudan, Slovakia , Costa Rica, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Mexico, Portugal, Czech Republic, Pakistan.At the same time, in a number of countries, a ban on the use of GMOs has been introduced at the legislative level.These are countries such as Switzerland, Australia, Austria, China, India, France, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Italy, Mexico.In other countries, restrictions on GMOs have been introduced.In Russia, GMOs are allowed to be grown only for scientific and experimental purposes [16].
With all this, in Russia there is legislative uncertainty regarding GMOs.The following legislative gaps can be mentioned:  it is not determined which plants are prohibited from growing and which are allowed and under what circumstances;  confusion in terms;  there are no clear rules for growing and using GMOs in agriculture.
In addition, activities are primarily aimed only at checking the presence of GMOs in certain products and plants.Detailed scientific studies of GMOs and the possibility of their targeted use are virtually not carried out.It seems that research and experimental work should be expanded so that their results can be used productively in the future.
It is also necessary to develop an institute for safety assessment, within which an expert analysis of the compositional equivalence of GMOs and traditional analogues is carried out.This assessment consists of the following steps:  taxonomic and genetic information is analyzed;  methods for detection, identification and quantification of GMOs are assessed;  the functional and technological properties of GMOs are assessed in comparison with traditional analogues;  medical and biological assessment of the safety of GMOs and its properties is carried out [17].It is important to avoid any categorical approach to the use of GMOs in agriculture: on the one hand, of course, careful control is necessary, but, on the other hand, a complete ban will not contribute to the normal development of the agricultural industry.It is worth taking a serious approach to the classification of GMOs, highlighting acceptable, progressive and safe technologies for further use.
Thus, in conclusion, we can formulate the following recommendations for solving existing problems associated with the use of GMOs in the agricultural industry:  conducting long-term and in-depth scientific research in order to most fully identify the impact of GMOs on flora and living organisms, on human health, as well as on soil, both in the short and long term;  selection of progressive and safe technologies for the use of GMOs in agriculture; development of an effective classification of GMOs;  development of criteria to determine in which cases the use of GMOs is acceptable/recommended, and in which a complete ban is necessary;  development of complete and clear safety rules, methodological recommendations that will be applied in the process of using GMOs in agriculture;  formation of a special register of field tests of GMOs;  development of regulation at the legislative level, elimination of existing legal and organizational gaps;  coordination of the activities of government bodies in this area.

Conclusion
We can come to the following conclusions based on the results of this study: firstly, the scientific community still lacks a substantiated, carefully developed position regarding the prospects and possibilities of using GMOs in agriculture; secondly, it can be noted that there are significant gaps in science regarding the specifics of the use of GMOs in the agricultural industry, which leads to an information vacuum, and, as a consequence, the manifestation of radical, contradictory, unfounded decisions; thirdly, it is necessary to place emphasis on organizing long-term and comprehensive scientific, experimental studies of the use of GMOs in agriculture, as well as the consequences of such use, in order to then develop clear guidelines regarding the possibilities, risks, and limits of the use of GMOs.In general, it is impossible to completely abandon the use of GMOs in agriculture, since this will, in fact, lead to ignoring scientific achievements, and will also cause "stagnation" in the development of this industry.The use of GMOs is a promising direction in the development of agriculture.However, this must be done with caution, with an emphasis on safety and thorough investigation.