GENETICALLY MODIFIED

FOODS

Definition
Genenetically modified foodsorGM foods,
alsogenetically engineered foods, are foods
produced fromorganismsthat have had changes
introduced into theirDNAusing the methods
ofgenetic engineering. Genetic engineering
techniques allow for the introduction of new traits as
well as greater control over traits than previous
methods such asselective breedingandmutation
breeding.
Commercial sale of genetically modified foods began
in 1994, whenCalgenefirst marketed its
unsuccessfulFlavr Savr delayed-ripening tomato. Most
food modifications have primarily focused oncash
cropsin high demand by farmers such as
soybean,corn,canola, andcotton seed oil.Genetically
modified cropshave been engineered for resistance to

History of GMO

Human directed genetic manipulation of food began with

thedomesticationof plants and animals throughartificial
selectionat about 10,500 to 10,100 BC.The process
ofselective breeding, in which organisms with
desiredtraits(and thus with the desiredgenes) are used to
breed the next generation and organisms lacking the trait
are not bred, is a precursor to the modern concept of
genetic modification (GM).With the discovery ofDNAin the
early 1900s and various advancements in
genetictechniques through the 1970sit became possible to
directly alter the DNA and genes within food.
Genetically modified microbial enzymes were the first
application ofgenetically modified organisms in food
production and were approved in 1988 by the USFood and
Drug Administration.In the early 1990s,
recombinantChymosinwas approved for use in several
countries.Cheese had typically been made using the
enzyme complexrennetthat had been extracted from

PROCESS OF GMF
The most common modification is to add one
or more genes to an organism's genome.
Major steps are:

1. Isolation of the gene(s) of interest.

2. Insertion of the gene(s) into a transfer
vector.
3. Plant transformation.

4. Selection of the modified plant

cells.
5. Regeneration into whole plants
via tissue culture.
6.Verification of transformation
and characterization of the
inserted DNA fragment.
7. Testing of plant performance .
8. Safety assessment.

Timeline of GMF
1973
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen combine their research
to create the first successful recombinant DNA organism.
1980
The U.S. Supreme Courtrules that genetically altered life
forms can be patented. The decision allows the Exxon Oil
Company to patent an oil-eating microorganism.
1982
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the first
genetically engineered drug, Genentech's Humulin, a
form of human insulin produced by bacteria. This is the
first consumer product developed through modern
bioengineering.
1986
The first field tests of genetically engineered plants
(tobacco) are conducted in Belgium.

 1987
The first field tests of genetically engineered crops
(tobacco and tomato) are conducted in the United
States.
1992
Calgene's Favr Savr tomato, engineered to remain firm
for a longer period of time, is approved for commercial
production by the US Department of Agriculture.
1992
The FDA declares that genetically engineered foods
are "not inherently dangerous" and do not require
special regulation.
1994
The European Union's first genetically engineered
crop, tobacco, is approved in France.
2000
International Biosafety Protocol is approved by 130
countries at the Convention on Biological Diversity in

 2003
Countries that grew 99 % of the global transgenic
crops were the United States (63 %), Argentina (21
%), Canada (6 %), Brazil (4 %), China (4 %), and South
Africa (1 %)
2005
the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs
had increased by a factor of 50, from 17,000 km2 (4.2
million acres) to 900,000 km2 (222 million acres), of
which 55 percent were in Brazil.
2010
The FDA determines more research is necessary to
assess the safety of genetically engineered animals
intended for human consumption.
Today
Many Genetically modified crops are grown in North
America. India has also come aboard the bandwagon

Advantages

Resistance to disease
Sustainability
Increased flavour & nutrition
Longer shelf life
Keeps it affordable
Less deforestation
New products
Environmental protection

Disadvantages

Cross contamination
Allergies on the rise
Less effective anti-biotics
Unusual taste
Not totally safe to eat
Lower level of biodiversity
Not enough testing

Global scenario
In 2014, the global area of biotech crops continued to
increase for the 19th year at a sustained growth rate of 3
to 4% or 6.3 million hectares reaching 181.5 million
hectares. Biotech crops have set a precedent in that the
biotech area has grown impressively every single year for
the past 19 years, with a remarkable 100-fold increase
since the commercialization began in 1996. Thus, biotech
crops are considered as the fastest adopted crop
technology in the history of modern agriculture. during
the period of 1996 to 2014, biotech crops have been
successfully grown in accumulated of 1.78 billion
hectares. In 2014, a total of 18 million farmers planted
biotech crops in 28 countries.

Distribution
Biotech crops were grown
commercially in all six
continents of the world.
Of the 28 countries
planting biotech crops in
2014, 19 countries
planted 50,000 hectares
or more to biotech crops .
These mega-countries
include the USA, Brazil,
Argentina, India to name
a few.

Indian scenario
India has the fourth largest area planted under
genetically modified (GM) crops
Farmers in India planted a total 11.6 million hectares
(mh) under transgenics in 2014, behind the
corresponding areas for Argentina (24.3 mh), Brazil
(42.2 mh) and the US (73.1 mh). The GM crop
acreage in India far surpassed Chinas 3.9 mh, while
equalling that of Canadas 11.6 mh
the entire 11.57 mh GM crop area in India last year
consisted of Bt cotton. Nearly 96 per cent of the
countrys cotton area is now covered by Bt hybrids.
Bt technology has helped India to treble its cotton
output from 13 million bales in 2002 (when it was
introduced) to 40 million bales in 2014.

Future
The biotech pipeline is filled with new crops
and traits which could be commercialized in
the next 5 years or more. These include
products with multiple modes of resistance
to pests/diseases and tolerance to
herbicides. Vitamin A-enriched rice
(Philippines) and late blight resistant
potatoes (Bangladesh, Indonesia, and India)
field testings are progressing.

Conclusion
To date, countries where genetically
modified crops have been introduced
in fields, have not reported any
significant health damage or
environmental harm. Farmers are
using less pesticides or using less toxic
ones, reducing harm to water supplies
and workers' health. Scientists
encourage further research.