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The lecturer argues that the genetically modified (GM) crops, which attract a lot of attention in media nowadays, are overestimated in their benefits. This contradicts the reading passage's claim that the introduction of GM crops brings to the humanity several advantages.
First of all, the lecturer casts doubt on the text's argument that the GM products could solve the world hunger by increasing the crop yields. She states that a simple rise of agricultural production would be far from assuring to the entire population of world a fair access to nourishment, which is currently hindered by the inequal distribution. This scepticism is justified by her explanation that the actual agricultural production is already sufficient to feed the entire humanity around the world.
Next, she counters the reading passage's view that the GM crops will reduce the cost of food, remarking that their price is around five times greater than the ordinary aliments. This contradiction is derived from the fact that the agricultural companies sell these crops expensive enough to support their projects to invent new GM species. Besides, she highlights that their higher consumption of water through cultivation causes as well a rise of cost.
Finally, she refutes the reading passage's claim that the GM production improves the availability of vaccines over the planet. Whereas the text describes the vaccines made of GM crops easier to store and to ship, the lecturer invokes that the GM ingredients of vaccines, such as bananas or tomatoes, are easily spoiled. This denies according to her the argument that the vaccines will be more widely available through the new agricultural technology. |