GeneWatch

In the following viewpoint GeneWatch, an organization whose goal is to ensure that genetic technologies are used in an ethical and safe manner, argues that unless people living in developing nations escape the poverty that keeps them from buying or producing the food they need, genetically modified (GM) crops will not help them. In fact, GeneWatch claims, GM crops may hurt poor farmers, who will go into debt trying to pay royalties to the corporations who own the patents on herbicide-resistant GM crops. Moreover, herbicide-resistant GM crops grown next to natural fields could contaminate the organic crops of poor farmers, leaving the crops even more vulnerable to crop-destroying weeds, GeneWatch maintains.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to GeneWatch, in addition to poverty, what factors contribute to world hunger?
2. In...