Gene technology can help to feed a growing population. GM crops can give a higher yield. Crops given an insect-resistance gene need less pesticide, and crops given a drought-tolerance gene can grow in drier places. Golden rice makes beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, so it could help people who suffer from vitamin A deficiency.
There are also practical risks. A gene such as herbicide resistance could spread to wild plants in pollen, creating weeds that herbicide cannot kill. GM crops might harm non-target insects, and the long-term effects on the wider ecosystem and on human health may not be fully known. A common misconception is that genetic engineering always means more pesticide, but insect-resistant crops can reduce the amount sprayed.
Ethical considerations are about what people think is right. Some people object to changing the genes of living things. Others worry that companies control the supply of seeds, and that poorer farmers may not be able to afford them. Many people also want food to be labelled so that they can choose.