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If I had a wish for the future it would be that we have less politics, less pure politics and we would have more pure science and vision. 

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If I had a wish for the future it would be that we have less politics, less pure politics and we would have more pure science and vision. 

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I found this quote important because it speaks on a valuable issue within the issue. Politics often times muddies up the water of an issue, and almost always halts progress. There are always going to debates over an issue, but the science is being left behind for those opinions. If a crop, or seed, or plant can be improved by science, and it is proven not to be harmful to humans, and animals then, there is no need for politics to get in the way. Especially since politics is the reason our food is mass produced in this country.

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After many years of stability, world food prices have jumped 83 percent since 2005 -- prompting warnings of a food crisis throughout much of the world earlier this year. In the United States and Europe, the increase in food prices is already yesterday's news; consumers in the developed world now have more pressing concerns, such as the rising price of energy and the falling price of houses. But in the developing world, a food shock of this magnitude is a major political event. To the typical household in poor countries, food is the equivalent of energy in the United States, and people expect their government to do something when prices rise. Already, there have been food riots in some 30 countries; in Haiti, they brought down the prime minister. And for some consumers in the world's poorest countries, the true anguish of high food prices is only just beginning. If global food prices remain high, the consequences will be grim both ethically and politically.

Politicians and policymakers do, in fact, have it in their power to bring food prices down. But so far, their responses have been less than encouraging: beggar-thy-neighbor restrictions, pressure for yet larger farm subsidies, and a retreat into romanticism. In the first case, neighbors have been beggared by the imposition of export restrictions by the governments of food-exporting countries. This has had the immaculately dysfunctional consequence of further elevating world prices while reducing the incentives for the key producers to invest in the agricultural sector. In the second case, the subsidy hunters have, unsurprisingly, turned the crisis into an opportunity; for example, Michel Barnier, the French agricultural minister, took it as a chance to urge the European Commission to reverse its incipient subsidy-slashing reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy. And finally, the romantics have portrayed the food crisis as demonstrating the failure of scientific commercial agriculture, which they have long found distasteful. In its place they advocate the return to organic small-scale farming -- counting on abandoned technologies to feed

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After many years of stability, world food prices have jumped 83 percent since 2005 -- prompting warnings of a food crisis throughout much of the world earlier this year. In the United States and Europe, the increase in food prices is already yesterday's news; consumers in the developed world now have more pressing concerns, such as the rising price of energy and the falling price of houses.

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The biological foundation for agriculture is the diversity that exists within each of the different crops. 

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The biological foundation for agriculture is the diversity that exists within each of the different crops. 

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I chose this quote because it speaks for the reasoning of documentary as a whole. The biology behind the plants we grow, eat and love. Do we as a nation put any real thought to these things? I do not believe so. For example, most families have sweet corn on the table in the summer time, yet do any of us know the difference between the corn grown in fields all across american and sweet corn? Probably not. The biology of the corn grown in most fields in the Midwest, is wholly different than that of sweet corn. Yet we people of America would never think to ask if there was a difference in the first place.

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Most of us take seeds for granted, we take agriculture for granted. 

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Most of us take seeds for granted, we take agriculture for granted. 

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I chose this quote because it makes a very good point about the ignorance of our society. We all know that seeds are responsible for the food we eat, and for the plants that are literally all over this planet. Yet we do not appreciate the science behind seeds, much less take the time to educate ourselves on the subject. Without seeds there is no farming. Without farming there is no food. I think there is something to be said for the value of genetically modified organisms as well. Battling the stigma of GMO's is a huge part of agriculture, since they were created to aid farmers in supplying the ever-growing demands of the american population.

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Its an artificial system, so what we have to do as humans is manage that system in as an ecologic way as possible. 

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Its an artificial system, so what we have to do as humans is manage that system in as an ecologic way as possible. 

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I found this quote important because I think most Americans do not realize that our style of farming is not the norm throughout the world. We farm large pieces of land with one crop, and farming in its origins, was patches of land with many different crops, planted for single family use. The way we farm in the present is a system of surplus farming, grow as much as you can, on as much land as possible, to feed as many people as possible. Its a grocery store world here in America, and our surplus farming has made it that way.

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One of the main benefits that advocates of genetically modified (GM) food have promoted is its ability to help alleviate world hunger.

In 2011, 160 million hectares of biotech crops were grown-that's 10% of earth's arable land, and it was an 8% increase than the previous year. The growth of biotech crops is the fastest growth segment in agriculture. While much of these crops are used for animal feed and biofuel, much of it also makes its way directly into a majority of processed foods sold in America and Asia.

However, despite all the commercial success of GM crops, have they made a significant impact on world hunger?

What's Driving the GM Food Revolution?

The first GM food, the Flavr-Savr Tomato, reduced the cost to produce canned tomato products about 20% and numerous studies have shown an economic benefit for farmers planting GM crops. Even livestock can be raised less expensively, using feed made from GM crops as evidenced by the recent change in EU policy to help struggling farmers. Also, faster growth rates resulting in cheaper fish production is the main benefit touted for the AquaBounty salmon that may become the first GM animal approved to be sold as food.

It's clear genetically engineered traits that make plants and animals more resistant to disease, stay ripe longer, and grow more robustly in a variety of conditions are effective in reducing costs and providing economic benefits to food producers.

Of course, the companies, such as Monsanto, Syngenta, and Aventis, that produce GM crops also rake in profits, and opportunities for smaller start-up biotech companies, such as AquaBounty and Arctic Apples abound. There are good economic incentives for GM food development and production that drive the development of these genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Are GM Crops Feeding More People?

Since they are cheaper to grow, increase yields, and extend the time food remains edible, it seems reasonable that GM plants should provide more food to a hungry world. However, it is not clear this is panning out as may have been naively anticipated several years ago. The countries that could benefit most from genetic engineering have benefited the least.

Politics v. Research and Distribution

Much of the inability of GM technology to provide relief for the poorest nations seems to have less to do with the technology and more with social and political issues. Many of the poorest countries most strongly affected by famine, such as many African nations, have set up onerous regulations that prevent the growth and import of GM food and crops. Much of this resistance seems to be prompted by groups such as the African Center for Biosafety and SAFeAGE, and also from international relationships with Europe which has tight restrictions on GM food. Also, and partially as a result of the political and social situation, groups, such as HarvestPlus, that focus on research and development crops and farming techniques to address third world hunger specifically avoid genetic engineering as a method to improve plants.

Anti-GM sentiment, though, is not the only reason it has failed to benefit the poorest nations. From the commercial side, major crop development companies use genetic engineering primarily to improve large cash crops with the most potential for profits, such as corn, cotton, soy, and wheat with. Little investment is put into crops, such as cassava, sorghum, millet, etc. which are more relevant for cultivation in poor nations. The economic incentive to develop the sort of GM crops that would help small, poor farmers in third world nations is small since the financial returns would be modest. Of course, anti-GM sentiment does nothing to ameliorate this bias.

Can Genetic Engineering Help Solve World Hunger?

OK, so let's just say it, the main driver pushing the development of GM crops is profits.

Big agricultural companies, farmers, and food producers all want to make more money. These entities have benefited most from GM crops, and this incentive has certainly been helping move forward the development of the technology. Some might even say it the way it is supposed to work-capitalism driving innovation. That's a different debate, though, and profit-driven efforts certainly don't negate the possibility that the technology can also be applied to benefit society at large by reducing world hunger. However, it also doesn't mean it will.

In fact, though, genetic engineering is a powerful tool for improving food production. There is no faster way to produce animals and plants with specific beneficial traits and, as we learn more about the genetics, many more modifications will become possible. While this may scare many, the potential is also enormous and could play a role to improve the situation for the poorest in the world.

Frankly, at this point, there is no question whether to apply genetic engineering toward improving crops for food consumption. Genetic modification is already part of the crop improvement tool box. The real question is if, in addition to helping make many wealthier in the industrialized world, this advanced technology provides part of the solution to help improve a lot of the poorest regions of the world. Applying this technology to safely and effectively solve the problems of third world hunger, though, would require reasonable engagement and coordination from a variety political and social groups, and that may be too much to hope for.

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Can Genetically Modified Food Feed the World?

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One of the main benefits that advocates of genetically modified (GM) food have promoted is its ability to help alleviate world hunger. In 2011, 160 million hectares of biotech crops were grown-that's 10% of earth's arable land, and it was an 8% increase than the previous year.

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I really value those individuals and know how smart they have to be to be good farmers. 

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I really value those individuals and know how smart they have to be to be good farmers. 

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I found this quote to be important because farmers are people to be valued and I think most Americans, unless they are from farming families, or farming towns, do not really understand the intelligence and tradition within farming families, and farmers in general. It is important to know where your food comes from, and to remember that the farmers who grow our food, know the science behind it. They know the biology of the seeds that they plant further than any average person would. Acknowledging that, is a crucial step in educating yourself and others on the value of American farmers.

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Choosing the Right Seed Before exploring how to best grow your seeds and seedlings, start with the right seed. If you intend to run your operation as certified organic, you are required to use certified organic seed and seedlings with only a f