Genetically Modified Organisms: The European Union against the United States"By increasing the fertility of the land, its abundance increases. Even improvements in agriculture introduce many types of plant foods which, requiring less land and no more labor than corn, come to market cheaply." - Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of NationsBook I.XI.nThe United States and the European The Union is currently in conflict over trade in genetically modified organisms. These altered plants produce more fruit per acre than traditional growing methods, while protecting the species from insects, environmental changes and mutations. The result, combined with the advantages of environmental protection, allows us to obtain better products at a more affordable price for consumers. Adam Smith would be in favor of genetic modification technologies because it increases the fertility of the earth, as well as its abundance. This growth translates into more agricultural products on the market that require less land to grow and no increase in labor. The consumer is then presented with a cheaper price because it eliminates the need to incur large labor costs and, sometimes, crop protection inputs such as pesticides. The European Union should allow these products to enter its market freely, to provide maximum profit to EU consumers.BIOTECHNOLOGYWhat is a GMO?GMO stands for a "genetically modified organism". A GMO is artificially developed by scientists to produce specific results such as sustaining life during a drought or producing more fruit per plant (Monsanto Corporation:1999). This practice began centuries ago, when plants and animals were selectively bred and microorganisms were us... at the center of the paper... dominated trade negotiations." Voice of Agriculture. http://www.fb.orgSmith, Adam. 1981 [1776]. Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations: Indianapolis, Indiana: Liberty Press. Trans-Atlantic Business Dialouge 1998. "Report on the Progress of the Biotechnology Group agribusiness and summary of findings". http://www.eabc.org/progress.htmUnited States Department of Agriculture 1998. "Biotechnology". http://www.useu.be/AGRI/biotech.htmlUnited States Mission at the European Union. "EU Committee accepts two labeling proposals for biotechnological foods." http://www.useu.be__________ of the USTR on Biotechnology and Trade." http://www.useu.be__________ ." http://www.useu.beWambugu, Florence. 1999. “Why Africa Needs Agricultural Biotechnology.” Nature. Volume 400. http://www.nature.com