Identifying and Comparing the Benefits of High Oleic Soybeans and DHA Canola on Combating Global Food Insecurity

This paper evaluates the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to alleviate global hunger. Traditional agricultural technologies alone cannot solve issues related to food security, hence the use of GMOs to increase nutritional values and yield. This paper compares two prominent GMOs, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) canola and high oleic soybeans, by researching previous scientific literature to assess their ability to withstand limiting conditions such as disease, drought, climate, and other environmental stressors. DHA canola is modified to contain supplemental omega-3 fatty acids commonly found in fish oil. High oleic soybeans, on the other hand, have been modified to maintain higher concentrations of oleic acid, a monounsaturated acid that increases stability and longevity compared to regular canola. To conduct this literature review, Virginia Tech Library databases such as Google Scholar, Gale, and EBSCOhost were used to find previous research. The main keywords used include high oleic soybean, DHA canola, advantages of soybeans or canola, disadvantages of soybeans or canola, and genetically modified organisms. The findings from the studies reviewed found that high oleic soybeans can resist certain herbicides while also reducing the risk for certain cardiovascular diseases, due to their lowered saturated contents. As for DHA canola, it has been proven to be an effective plant-based source of omega-3, thus reducing negative implications on the environment, such as overfishing, while ensuring the consumption of omega-3 supplements in the human diet.