GMOs are food items that have been made using genetic engineering techniques. For starters, many GMO crops have been genetically modified to express a gene that protects them against pests and insects.
For example, the Bt gene is commonly genetically engineered into crops like corn, cotton, and soybeans. It comes from a naturally occurring bacteria known as Bacillus thuringiensis. This gene produces a protein that is toxic to several pests and insects, which gives the GMO plants a natural resistance.
Other GMO crops have been modified with genes that help them survive stressful conditions, such as droughts, and resist diseases like blights, resulting in a higher yield for farmers 9 , 10 , Together, these factors help lower the costs for the farmers and consumers because it allows a greater crop yield and growth through harsher conditions.
Additionally, genetic modification can increase the nutritional value of foods. For example, rice high in beta carotene, also called golden rice, was developed to help prevent blindness in regions where local diets are chronically deficient in vitamin A Moreover, genetic modification may be used simply to enhance the flavor and appearance of foods, such as the non-browning apple In addition, current research suggests that GMO foods are safe for consumption GMO foods are easier and less costly for farmers to grow, which makes them cheaper for the consumer.
Although current research suggests that GMO foods are safe, there is some concern around their long-term safety and environmental impact This is because GMO foods contain foreign genes, so some people worry that they harbor genes from foods that may prompt an allergic reaction.
A study from the mids found that adding a protein from Brazil nuts to GMO soybeans could trigger an allergic reaction in people sensitive to Brazil nuts. However, after scientists discovered this, they quickly abandoned this GMO food Although allergy concerns are valid, there have been no reports of allergic reactions to GMO foods currently on the market.
In addition, research has shown that GMO foods are no likelier to trigger allergies than their non-GMO counterparts This worry may stem partly from an early mice study, which linked GMO intake to a higher risk of tumors and early death. However, this study was later retracted because it was poorly designed 18 , 19 , Most GMO crops are resistant to herbicides, such as Roundup.
This means that farmers can use Roundup without fear of it harming their own crops. However, a growing number of weeds have developed resistance to this herbicide over time. This has led to even more Roundup being sprayed on crops to kill the resistant weeds because they can affect the crop harvest 22 , 23 , Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate are subject to controversy because animal and test-tube studies have linked them to various diseases 25 , 26 , Still, a review of multiple studies concluded that the low amounts of glyphosate present on GMO foods are safe for human consumption The main concerns around GMOs involve allergies, cancer, and environmental issues — all of which may affect the consumer.
Rationalizing the GMO debate: the ordonomic approach to addressing agricultural myths. PMID: pubmed. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. US Department of Agriculture website.
National bioengineered food disclosure standard. Effective date: February 19, Accessed September 28, US Food and Drug Administration website. Understanding new plant varieties. Updated March 2, Editorial team. Genetically engineered foods. I found Monsanto had marketed a drought-resistant corn product, but that this has not had great commercial uptake and its efficacy was questioned by a scientific study.
Arcadia has formed a joint venture with an Argentinian bioengineering firm to produce a drought-resistant soybean seed. NOTE: After writing this article, I was contacted by a representative from Arcadia BioSciences with more information about the company's drought-resistant soybean product.
This information convinced me that the conclusion I made above -- tying present market cap to the success of Arcadia's genetically engineered soybean seed -- may be overly hasty. In fact, Arcadia has not yet received regulatory approval for the product, so has not been able to sell drought-tolerant soybeans in Argentina.
As such, the commercial impact of the product is still uncertain. Always on the lookout for a promising new technology, I have asked to speak to Arcadia representatives about the project and about the rest of the company's product line-up.
Please follow me on Forbes to be updated with what I have learned. I have apologized to the company for my hasty mischaracterization of the commercial impact of Arcadia's drought-resistant soybean product. CIMMYT has built a seed bank and has done the painstaking work started by their long-distant ancestors of observing plants and cross-breeding them to create drought-resistant maize varietals. Figure 4. You can see test crops in the background.
According to the researchers:. Drought tolerance is a complex trait that involves multiple genes. Transgenic techniques [ N. There is a place for the genetic modification of crops; for instance, altering the times of the day during which plant respiration occurs may be an important field of research and development in the future.
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