bioengineered crops

7/30/2019 Bioengineered Crops

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Are foods derived from genetically modifiedorganisms (GMOs), specifically, geneticallymodified crops. GMOs have had specific changes

introduced into their DNA by geneticengineering techniques. These techniques aremuch more precise than mutagenesis (mutationbreeding) where an organism is exposed to

radiation or chemicals to create a non-specificbut stable change. Other techniques by whichhumans modify food organisms include selectivebreeding and somaclonal variation.


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Commercial sale of genetically modifiedfoods began in 1994, when Calgene firstmarketed its Flavr Savr delayed ripening

tomato. Typically, genetically modifiedfoods are transgenicplant products: soybean, corn, canola,and cotton seed oil. These may have

been engineered for faster growth,resistance to pathogens, production ofextra nutrients, or any other beneficialpurpose.


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Genetically engineered plants aregenerated in a laboratory by alteringtheir genetic makeup and are testedin the laboratory for desired qualities.

Once satisfactory plants areproduced, sufficient seeds aregathered, and the companiesproducing the seed need to apply for

regulatory approval to field-test theseeds. If these field tests aresuccessful, the company must seekregulatory approval for the crop to bemarketed.


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Once that approval is obtained, theseeds are mass-produced, and sold tofarmers.

The farmers produce geneticallymodified crops, which also contain theinserted gene and its protein product.

The farmers then sell their crops ascommodities into the food supplymarket, in countries where such sales

are permitted.


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Insecticide sweet cornScientists have geneticallymodified sweet corn so that itproduces a poison which kills

harmful insects. This meansthe farmer no longer needs tofight insects with insecticides.The genetically modified corn is

called Bt-corn, because theinsect-killing gene in the plantcomes from thebacteria Bacillus thuringiensis.


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Pesticide resistant rapeplants

Scientists have transferreda gene to the rape plant

which enables the plant toresist a certain pesticide.When the farmer sprays hisgenetically modified rapecrop with pesticides, he orshe can destroy most of thepests without killing therape plants.


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Golden riceGolden rice is geneticallymodified rice that nowcontains a large amount ofA-vitamins. Or more

correctly, the rice containsthe element beta-carotene which is convertedin the body into Vitamin-A.

So when you eat goldenrice, you get more vitaminA.

Beta-carotene gives carrots

their orange colour and isthe reason why geneticallymodified rice is golden. Forthe golden rice to make

beta-carotene three newgenes are implanted: twofrom daffodils and the thirdfrom a bacterium.


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Long-lasting tomatoesLong-lasting, geneticallymodified tomatoes came onto the market in 1994 and

were the first geneticallymodified food available toconsumers. The geneticallymodified tomato producesless of the substance thatcauses tomatoes to rot, soremains firm and fresh for along time.


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In Europe today 3 genetically modifiedcrops are permitted (June 2002). Theseare:Soya beans - resistant to crop spraySweet corn - resistant to crop spray andproduce insecticideRape plants - resistant to crop spray anddoes not produce pollen(therefore it cannot

pollinate other plants)


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All 3 plants have beenapproved for import and foodproduce manufacture. Sweet

corn and rape plants are alsoapproved for cultivation.Genetically modified lettuce isalso approved for cultivation.

But the lettuce is solely used inprocessing work and not asfood produce


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What is grown globally?

In 2001 the area of geneticallymodified crops grown globally was52.6 million hectares. Thatcorresponds to an area the size of

France or Spain. This includes foodand non-food crops such as cotton4 countries produce 99% of theworld's genetically modified crops.These are:USA (68%)Argentina (22%)Canada (6%)China (3%)


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The 3 most commongenetically modified foodsare soybeans, rape andsweet corn. Of all the

soybeans grown in theworld 46% are geneticallymodified. 11% of the rapeand 7% of the corn isgenetically modified.

bioengineered crops

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