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Question

Hi, I am working on a school research project about genetic technologies, including GMOs. What purposes are crops most commonly genetically modified for?

Submitted by: Ashton


Answer

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Tuesday, 04/08/2015 12:04

Currently, the only GMOs commercially available in the United States are the following eight crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets and summer squash. The apple and potato have been GMO approved and are coming to the market soon.

 

Many people think GMOs are bigger than non-GM crops, or taste or feel different, but genetic engineering isn’t yet used to make crops grow bigger or to look any different than their non-GM counterparts.

 

The traits GMOs are created to exhibit include:

  • Insect resistance. This trait provides farmers with season-long protection against target pests, reduces the need for pesticide applications, and lowers input costs.

  • Drought resistance. GM crops that express drought resistance can grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources.

  • Herbicide tolerance. Crops that can tolerate specific herbicides allow farmers to fight weeds by applying herbicides only when needed and enable them to use no-till production methods that preserve topsoil, prevent erosion, and reduce carbon emissions.

  • Disease resistance. Through genetic modification, the Hawaiian papaya industry was able to recover from the devastating papaya ringspot virus that had crippled the industry.

  • Increased/enhanced nutritional content. Currently in development are genetically modified soybeans with an enhanced oil profile, much like olive oil, made to be longer lasting and trans fat free.

  • Dozens of new GM products have been made by university scientists that have never been commercialized.

 

Below is a graphic that explains these GM crops and their uses in more detail:

 

Answer

Expert response from GMOAnswers Admin_1

Tuesday, 04/08/2015 12:02

Currently, the only GMOs commercially available in the United States are the following eight crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets and summer squash. The apple and potato have been GMO approved and are coming to the market soon.

 

Many people think GMOs are bigger than non-GM crops, or taste or feel different, but genetic engineering isn’t yet used to make crops grow bigger or to look any different than their non-GM counterparts.

 

The traits GMOs are created to exhibit include:

  • Insect resistance. This trait provides farmers with season-long protection against target pests, reduces the need for pesticide applications, and lowers input costs.
  • Drought resistance. GM crops that express drought resistance can grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources.
  • Herbicide tolerance. Crops that can tolerate specific herbicides allow farmers to fight weeds by applying herbicides only when needed and enable them to use no-till production methods that preserve topsoil, prevent erosion, and reduce carbon emissions.
  • Disease resistance. Through genetic modification, the Hawaiian papaya industry was able to recover from the devastating papaya ringspot virus that had crippled the industry.
  • Increased/enhanced nutritional content. Currently in development are genetically modified soybeans with an enhanced oil profile, much like olive oil, made to be longer lasting and trans fat free.
  • Dozens of new GM products have been made by university scientists that have never been commercialized

 

Below is a graphic that explains these GM crops and their uses in more detail:

Answer

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Tuesday, 04/08/2015 12:04

Currently, the only GMOs commercially available in the United States are the following eight crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets and summer squash. The apple and potato have been GMO approved and are coming to the market soon.

 

Many people think GMOs are bigger than non-GM crops, or taste or feel different, but genetic engineering isn’t yet used to make crops grow bigger or to look any different than their non-GM counterparts.

 

The traits GMOs are created to exhibit include:

  • Insect resistance. This trait provides farmers with season-long protection against target pests, reduces the need for pesticide applications, and lowers input costs.

  • Drought resistance. GM crops that express drought resistance can grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources.

  • Herbicide tolerance. Crops that can tolerate specific herbicides allow farmers to fight weeds by applying herbicides only when needed and enable them to use no-till production methods that preserve topsoil, prevent erosion, and reduce carbon emissions.

  • Disease resistance. Through genetic modification, the Hawaiian papaya industry was able to recover from the devastating papaya ringspot virus that had crippled the industry.

  • Increased/enhanced nutritional content. Currently in development are genetically modified soybeans with an enhanced oil profile, much like olive oil, made to be longer lasting and trans fat free.

  • Dozens of new GM products have been made by university scientists that have never been commercialized.

 

Below is a graphic that explains these GM crops and their uses in more detail:

 

Answer

Expert response from GMOAnswers Admin_1

Tuesday, 04/08/2015 12:02

Currently, the only GMOs commercially available in the United States are the following eight crops: soybeans, corn (field and sweet), papaya, canola, cotton, alfalfa, sugar beets and summer squash. The apple and potato have been GMO approved and are coming to the market soon.

 

Many people think GMOs are bigger than non-GM crops, or taste or feel different, but genetic engineering isn’t yet used to make crops grow bigger or to look any different than their non-GM counterparts.

 

The traits GMOs are created to exhibit include:

  • Insect resistance. This trait provides farmers with season-long protection against target pests, reduces the need for pesticide applications, and lowers input costs.
  • Drought resistance. GM crops that express drought resistance can grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources.
  • Herbicide tolerance. Crops that can tolerate specific herbicides allow farmers to fight weeds by applying herbicides only when needed and enable them to use no-till production methods that preserve topsoil, prevent erosion, and reduce carbon emissions.
  • Disease resistance. Through genetic modification, the Hawaiian papaya industry was able to recover from the devastating papaya ringspot virus that had crippled the industry.
  • Increased/enhanced nutritional content. Currently in development are genetically modified soybeans with an enhanced oil profile, much like olive oil, made to be longer lasting and trans fat free.
  • Dozens of new GM products have been made by university scientists that have never been commercialized

 

Below is a graphic that explains these GM crops and their uses in more detail: