Genetically modified crops (GM crops) are plants used in agriculture whose DNA has been modified by adding or removing genes using genetic engineering methods. Genetic engineering techniques include gene guns, electroporation, microinjection, agrobacterium (bacteria that transfer DNA between itself and plants), and more recently, CRISPR and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN; restriction enzymes that can be engineered to cut specific sequences of DNA) as much more precise and convenient editing techniques.

In 1994 the first commercial genetically modified (GM) plants were planted. They were tomatoes which had been genetically modified to slow their ripening processes, delaying softening and rotting. It was not until 1996 that a significant area of 1.66 million hectares was planted with crops with GM characteristics. Since then, there has been a large increase in plantings, and by 2018 the global planted area had reached over 191.7 million hectares.

 

 

Countries Growing Biotech Crops 1996 vs 2018

 

 

Countries importing biotech crops in 2018 were: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom [2].

 

 

Kinds of Biotech Crops 1996 vs 2018

 

 

 

 

 

Dominant Trait for the GM Crops

Virus resistance was the dominant trait in the transgenic crop area in 1996 with 40 % of the global area. Insect resistance occupied 37 % and herbicide tolerance 23 % of the global share in 1996. Herbicide resistance means the plant can be sprayed with poison even while it is growing. Since 1996, most GM plants have been labeled herbicide-resistant. The best known is probably the resistance of GM soybeans to the weed killer glyphosate. Everything except the glyphosate-resistant soybeans dies. Today, major crop traits consist of herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, or both. Other traits include improved shelf life, stress resistance, production of useful goods such as biofuel or drugs, or the ability to absorb toxins.

 

 

References

[1] Clive James, Global Status of Transgenic Crops in 1997 (PDF), ISAAA Briefs 1997, No. 5. (Retrieved 2 November 2020)

[2] Clive James, ISAAA Report on Global Status of Biotech/GM Crops, International Service for the Acquisition Of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), ISAAA Briefs 2018, No. 54. (Retrieved 2 November 2020)

[3] Clive James, Anatole F. Krattiger, Global Review of the Field Testing and Commercialization of Transgenic Plants, 1986 to 1995: The First Decade of Crop Biotechnology, ISAAA Briefs 1996, No. 1. (Retrieved 2 November 2020)

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Also of Interest

• GM Crops
  Lisa-Marie Rauschendorfer
  ChemistryViews 2013.
  https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201300052
  What are GM Crops? What is their benefit? How are they made? What risks are there?