Genetically Modified Foods
Overveiw
A genetically modified food is classified as a type of organism that has had its genes (DNA) altered to act in a way that does not occur naturally. Sometimes, geneticlaly modified organsims contain genes from other species. Scientists are able to create GM foods by isolating the organisms gene that is carrying a particular desirable trait (i.e. drought resistance) and then removing it from that plant and inserting it into another plant in a related spcies in order to provide the recipient plant species with the desired trait. Most research and work being done on GM plants focus on making them more nutritious, more resistant to pests/viruses and more weather tolerant. Some common genetically modified foods grown in Canada are:
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Wheat
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
- Rice
Brief History
Prior to the 1990's, farmers would improve their crops or their livestock by methods of cross-breeding or hybridization. Early breakthroughs in GM food production include Monsanto's introduction of a species of corn with a built-in insecticide and Potrykus new breed of rice, known as "golden rice" (fortified with vitamin A and beta carotene). The first genetically modified food arrived on the shelves in the US in early 1994. The food was a genetic modified tomato that was altered to have a longer shelf life. In 1996, GM crops were planted on around 2 million hectares globally. By 1998, GM crops covered 28 million hectares of the earth. Currently over 100 million hectares are being utilized for GM crops.Since 1993, more than eighty genetically modified foods have been approved.