Biotechnology

Genetic modification, or the creation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is not a new concept. People have been genetically modifying plants and animals since before written history. Corn started out as a grass plant with very small seeds. Now the plant is over 7 feet tall and grows large ears with hundreds of kernels. Soybeans have been selectively bred to allow for growth from North Dakota to Alabama and to become more productive with 50 to 100 seed pods per plant. Livestock have also been affected by these biotechnology techniques. Cattle have been improved using selective breeding techniques to create more beef, improve disease resistance, enhance milk production in dairy cows, and other desired traits.

A more familiar example is the incredible variety of dog breeds that are all the same species (can interbreed) but have such different sizes, colors, and fur types. Think of the differences between a Great Dane and a Chihuahua! All of these dog breeds resulted from selective breeding of the same species.

We still practice selective breeding today, and describe the resulting offspring from these crosses as hybrids. The purpose of any genetic modification in crops is to protect the yield of the plant from pests, diseases or other stresses in the environment (flooding, drought, etc). As technology has improved, genetic engineering can now be achieved through the movement of specific genetic material from one organism to another, resulting in what many call GMOs. The techniques of genetic engineering include isolating desirable genetic traits from one organism and inserting one or more of these traits into a different organism. This allows for a variety of combinations that can be tailored for specific environmental conditions. Most crop GMOs are a combination of selective breeding (creating hybrids), genetic engineering (inserting specific traits from other organisms), and other techniques (i.e.seed chipping). In 2020, genetically engineered crops were grown on about 96% of planted acres in the United States.

CRISPR is a genome editing technique that is being used to knock out genes that result in undesirable characteristics and does not involve introducing DNA from different organisms. Many favorable traits are being enhanced through the use of CRISPR in soybeans, corn and other food crops. In livestock, particularly dairy cows, CRISPR has been used to make precise, rapid modifications that enhance heat stress tolerance, reduce disease susceptibility, and introduce other qualitative traits.

Within the United States, nearly 80% of all foods sold contain some GMOs. A new bioengineered label regulated by the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard passed in 2018, and appears on packaged foods as of January 1, 2022. In addition, tests by the USDA, EPA, and FDA have determined that the products that result from genetically engineered crops are not significantly different than foods that use other selective breeding techniques. Different countries have varied rules that regulate the sale and trade of patented GMO seeds and the foods that contain these crops.

The benefits of biotech crops are many and include: more affordable food, better livelihoods from higher yields, lower pesticide use, land-saving technology, reduction of food waste and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. (See isaaa.org for more details.)