IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write at least 250 words.
One of the most important issues facing the world today is a shortage of food and some think genetically modified foods are a possible solution
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Answer:
The issue of food shortage is an increasingly urgent one in the contemporary world, with global population growth and climate change having a significant effect on the availability of food. One possible solution that has been suggested is the introduction of genetically modified foods, and while there are some potential benefits to this, I would argue that its use should be limited.
On the one hand, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have a number of potential advantages. For example, they can be engineered to be resistant to pests and diseases, meaning that crops are more likely to survive and therefore increase yields. Additionally, they can also be modified to contain more nutrients, meaning that the nutritional value of a food can be increased. Furthermore, production costs can be reduced, as the need for the use of pesticides and herbicides is minimised.
On the other hand, however, it is important to consider the potential risks associated with the introduction of GMOs. Firstly, it is possible that introducing such organisms could lead to unforeseen consequences, as the long-term effects of these organisms on the environment are not yet known. Additionally, while there is the potential to create food with increased nutritional content, this may also have the effect of creating foods with lower nutritional content, as the genetic manipulation of organisms is not an exact science. Finally, there is also potential for the emergence of ‘superweeds’ and ‘superbugs’, which could be resistant to pesticides and herbicides and therefore affect the quality of food production.
In conclusion, while there are some potential benefits to the introduction of GMOs, I believe that its use should be limited. This is due to the potential risks associated with their use, and the lack of knowledge about their long-term effects on the environment. Therefore, it is important that more research is conducted into GMOs before they are introduced, to ensure that their use does not harm the environment and the quality of food production.