Question
how has our food been genetically modified
Submitted by: moonlight3318
Answer
Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Tuesday, 07/07/2015 09:59
Plant breeding methods have become more sophisticated in recent history, but humans have been modifying the genetics of plants and animals for more than 10,000 years. Genetic engineering has been used to improve plant genetics in agricultural crops for more than 20 years. This chart shows the various types of seed improvements made through various breeding techniques, including transgenesis (GMOs).
Learn more about breeding methods here.
In the United States, there are only ten GMO crops commercially available:
- Corn (field and sweet)
- Papaya
- Canola
- Cotton
- Alfalfa
- Sugar beets
- Summer squash
- Apple (approved to be grown, but not yet available in stores)
- Potato (approved to be grown, but not yet available in stores)
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.
Other types of GMOs that are not plants include microorganisms used to make cheese, beer and wine, and even insulin used as medicine for humans.
Answer
Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Tuesday, 07/07/2015 09:59
Plant breeding methods have become more sophisticated in recent history, but humans have been modifying the genetics of plants and animals for more than 10,000 years. Genetic engineering has been used to improve plant genetics in agricultural crops for more than 20 years. This chart shows the various types of seed improvements made through various breeding techniques, including transgenesis (GMOs).
Learn more about breeding methods here.
In the United States, there are only ten GMO crops commercially available:
- Corn (field and sweet)
- Papaya
- Canola
- Cotton
- Alfalfa
- Sugar beets
- Summer squash
- Apple (approved to be grown, but not yet available in stores)
- Potato (approved to be grown, but not yet available in stores)
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.
Other types of GMOs that are not plants include microorganisms used to make cheese, beer and wine, and even insulin used as medicine for humans.