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Agrobiotechnology

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orange inside apple simulating agrobiotechnology

Apples to Oranges

It would take a lot of gravy to make genetically modified organisms or transgenic plants taste good to me. Even though the FDA, USDA and the EPA all say it is AOK, I prefer the genetic cooking experience of Mother nature. Apparently, much of the public feels the same way because I haven't seen any vegetables in the produce section with the letters "GM" stamped on it. Which probably means that I have eaten GMO's and not known it. Anyway, I'm still alive and here is everything I've found about agricultural biotechnology.

Agrobiotechnology is a range of tools, including traditional breeding techniques, that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Modern agricultural biotechnology includes the tools of genetic engineering. The research on and development of agricultural products such as crop varieties and crop protection products by modifying genes to confer desirable properties such as pest resistance or improved nutritional profiles. Source: USDA

Mini Glossary

Here are some of the terms that I discovered during my introduction to agricultural biotechnology.

Agricultural biotechnology is also known as agribiotechnology, agro-biotechnology agribiotech, agbiotech.

Agrobiotechnology is an umbrella term to describe different processes for duplicating biological material.

Agricultural biotechnology is also known as agribiotechnology, agro-biotechnology agribiotech, agbiotech.

GM - Genetically Modified

GMO - Genetically Modified Organism

GE - Genetically Engineered

LMO - Living Modified Organism

Transgenic - Containing genes from another species

Bt Crops - transgenic crops producing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins that kill pests.

Bt - Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a natural soil bacterium that produces crystals containing proteins that are toxic to certain insects.

Benefits of Agrobiotechnology

Advances in agricultural biotechnology may provide farmers and consumers with:

  • Reduced use of pesticides
  • Crops resistant to disease
  • Crops resistant to pests
  • Increased yields
  • Reduced production costs
  • Foods that are nutritionally-enriched
  • Foods that last longer
  • Reduced fats
  • Reduced allergens/food-borne illnesses
  • New medicines
  • Reduced use of uncultivated land
  • Erosion, soil management
  • Renewable sources of energy
  • Biodegradable manufacturing materials

Risks of Agricultural Biotechnology

Here are some agricultural biotechnology risks that I found at the National Science Foundation

  • Gene Transfer
  • Unintended effects on humans and other organisms
  • Pests and weeds naturally developing resistance
Super Spud

The first genetically engineered product went on the market in 1994. The FDA determined that a new tomato, which could be shipped vine-ripened without rotting rapidly, was as safe as other commercial tomatoes. Since then, more than 50 other genetically engineered foods have been determined by the agency to be as safe as their conventional counterparts.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America estimates that between 70 percent and 75 percent of all processed foods available in U.S. grocery stores may contain ingredients from genetically engineered plants. Breads, cereal, frozen pizzas, hot dogs and soda are just a few of them.

Soybean oil, cottonseed oil and corn syrup are ingredients used extensively in processed foods. Soybeans, cotton and corn dominate the 100 million acres of genetically engineered crops that were planted in the United States in 2003, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Through genetic engineering, these plants have been made to ward off pests and to tolerate herbicides used to kill weeds. Other crops, such as squash, potatoes, and papaya, have been engineered to resist plant diseases.

More than 50 biotech food products have been evaluated by the FDA and found to be as safe as conventional foods, including canola oil, corn, potatoes, soybeans, squash, sugar beets and tomatoes.

Who Manages the Safety of Agricultural Biotechnology Food Products?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work to ensure that crops produced through genetic engineering for commercial use are properly tested and studied to make sure they pose no significant risk to consumers or the environment.

Source: Food and Drug Administration (2003)

Consumers and the Future of Biotech Foods

Biotechnology is often associated with promise…promise to feed the world, promise to reduce environmental harm, promise to expand agricultural markets and production possibilities, promise to create products that consumers want. Are consumers sold?

Consumers and Biotech Foods

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Agrobiotechnology Articles, Blogs and Web Sites

All Links open in a new window. Bold = Recommended

Agrobiotechnology Articles
Title Source Date
GMO corn falls prey to bugs it was supposed to thwart PhysOrg 09/11
New Genetic Map of Potato May Lead to Improved Crops NSF 07/11
Percentage of biotechnology crops in U.S. USDA 12/09
Frankenfood Gets Supersized Wired 04/09
Chemists engineer plants to produce new compounds PhysOrg 01/09
The First Decade of Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States USDA 04/06

 

Agrobiotechnology Web Sites and Blogs
Title Description
International biotech foods isaaa.org
Biotechnology Primer Monsanto
Feeding the Future California Healthy Foods Coalition
Understanding Genetics Stanford

 

References
Article Sources
What is Agricultural Biotechnology? Paraphrased from usda.gov
What are the benefits of Agro-biotechnology? Article by ffa
Please Pass the Genetically Engineered Potatoes Paraphrased from fda.gov
Image by ffa
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