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

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 “unnaturalness.” 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.