Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?

<p>Ethics is about conforming to a standard of what is perceived as right and good for the community and the world at large. One reason why people reject science is that the information or achievement contradicts what they believe is true, good, or valuable. This has been the case with the advent of...

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Main Authors: Caradus, John R., Turner, James A.
Format: Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: IntechOpen 2026
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Online Access:https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237763
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author Caradus, John R.
Turner, James A.
author_browse Caradus, John R.
Turner, James A.
author_facet Caradus, John R.
Turner, James A.
author_sort Caradus, John R.
building IntechOpen
collection Acceso abierto
description <p>Ethics is about conforming to a standard of what is perceived as right and good for the community and the world at large. One reason why people reject science is that the information or achievement contradicts what they believe is true, good, or valuable. This has been the case with the advent of genetic modification in the mid-1990s, where concerns center on potential risks and benefits, including issues of environmental impact, human health, food safety, corporate control, social justice, and the concept of &ldquo;unnaturalness.&rdquo; This review does not question the ethical standards of researchers, which require honesty, objectivity, and precision in all aspects of research, but rather the conflict of belief systems regarding what is good and right for individuals, society, and the environment. It will attempt to provide arguments to assist in aligning scientific advancements with mainstream and marginal societal values. Ethical concerns of plant research, and in particular plant biotechnology, are discussed. Simple answers and universal agreement are unlikely, but the debate on ethical concerns of genetic modification should recognize scientific evidence while ensuring that any engagement is centered on understanding the differences in human well-being, environmental impacts, and social justice that matter to different groups.</p>
doi_str_mv 10.5772/intechopen.1014297
first_indexed 2026-10-15T21:41:38Z
format Book Chapter
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spelling intech-12377632026-01-21 Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated? John R. Caradus James A. Turner Life Sciences <p>Ethics is about conforming to a standard of what is perceived as right and good for the community and the world at large. One reason why people reject science is that the information or achievement contradicts what they believe is true, good, or valuable. This has been the case with the advent of genetic modification in the mid-1990s, where concerns center on potential risks and benefits, including issues of environmental impact, human health, food safety, corporate control, social justice, and the concept of &ldquo;unnaturalness.&rdquo; This review does not question the ethical standards of researchers, which require honesty, objectivity, and precision in all aspects of research, but rather the conflict of belief systems regarding what is good and right for individuals, society, and the environment. It will attempt to provide arguments to assist in aligning scientific advancements with mainstream and marginal societal values. Ethical concerns of plant research, and in particular plant biotechnology, are discussed. Simple answers and universal agreement are unlikely, but the debate on ethical concerns of genetic modification should recognize scientific evidence while ensuring that any engagement is centered on understanding the differences in human well-being, environmental impacts, and social justice that matter to different groups.</p> IntechOpen 2026-01-21 Chapter, Part Of Book https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237763 doi:10.5772/intechopen.1014297 en ISBN:978-1-80631-283-2 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ https://www.intechopen.com/books/1005305 ; Genetically Modified Organisms - Engineering Life in the 21st Century
spellingShingle Life Sciences
Caradus, John R.
Turner, James A.
Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title_full Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title_fullStr Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title_full_unstemmed Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title_short Perspective Chapter: Ethical Issues Associated with Genetically Modified Crops, and Can They Be Alleviated?
title_sort perspective chapter ethical issues associated with genetically modified crops and can they be alleviated
topic Life Sciences
url https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1237763
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