What Are Transgenic Crops
Transgenic crops are crops that contain a gene or genes that have been inserted by humans into the genome of a plant. The inserted gene sequence (known as the transgene) may come from another unrelated plant, or from a completely different species such as an animal. Plants that contain these transgenes are known as transgenic, or genetically modified, crops and are often referred to as genetically modified organisms. Transgenic crops have been approved and grown in the United States since 1987.
What's Good About Transgenic Crops
Transgenic crops were developed to meet specific needs. Of the transgenic crops approved for commercial use in 2003, 34% were developed to be insect tolerant, 30% to be herbicide resistant, 16% to improve quality of the crop, and 9% for improved agronomic properties.
Transgenic crops were developed to improve yields and taste, to increase nutritional value, to contain vaccines, to last longer and withstand commercial harvesting, packing and shipping practices.
An example of a transgenic crop being created for a specific purpose is "Golden Rice." Millions of children around the world suffer from a vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the immune system and children who are vitamin A deficient are at much greater risk of dying from common childhood illnesses such as measles. Syngenta, owners of many of the patents on "Golden Rice," believe that "the 'Golden Rice' project provides one potential method of addressing the serious health problems caused by vitamin A deficiency, particularly in some developing countries. It is not a substitute for existing efforts to tackle the problem, but could substantially complement them in the future" (Syngenta).
What's Bad About Transgenic Crops
Many people believe that human intervention in the production of living things by editing the genome of plants is bound to produce poor or even dangerous results. They believe there is a difference between editing the genome and selective breeding. There is pressure from the American public to provide evidence that these crops are safe beyond the brief testing periods they have endured.
Growers who abide by organic practices and have achieved organic certification worry that the genes from nearby transgenic crops will contaminate the crops in their fields and thus ruin their ability to sell their crops under the certified organic label.
Some people will argue that while the intentions of the transgenic crops, as in the case of "Golden Rice" are admirable, there are more efficient ways to resolve the issues. For example, UNICEF concurs "vitamin A is essential for the functioning of the immune system. Children who are vitamin A deficient are at much greater risk of dying from common childhood illnesses such as measles" (UNICEF).
UNICEF goes on, however, to point out that in their view, the problem can be solved "with twice-yearly capsules costing just 2 cents each or by fortifying food staples such as flour or sugar. In the industrialized world, many foods have been fortified with vitamin A for decades" (UNICEF).
With regards to safety, transgenic crops have only been in the food system a short time. The fact that transgenic crops are modified at one of the most base levels of life makes tracking their impact on our environment and our bodies a monumental task. Without unbiased research, extended across many years, it is unlikely that the public world wide will embrace transgenic crops.
It is appalling that transgenic crops are already well entrenched in the American food stream and that we have no means to track which products contain genetically modifed organisms so that we may make an informed decision about whether to consume foods which contain genetically modified organisms or not.
What is the Approval Process for Transgenic Crops in the United States
The USDA states that "generally, before a genetically engineered crop can be produced on a wider scale and sold commercially, its creators must petition the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for a determination of non-regulated status, which requires the submission of more information than a field test permit request. APHIS must be provided scientific details about the genetics of the plant, the nature and origin of the genetic material used, information about indirect effects on other plants, field test reports, and even information unfavorable to the petition. All petitions are published in the Federal Register and the public is given time to comment. APHIS grants the petition only if it determines that the plant poses no significant risk to other plants in the environment and is as safe to use as more traditional varieties" (USDA).
When the "determination of non-regulated status" is given the new plant may be grown or used for traditional crop breeding without any additional APHIS action. Essentially, this determination permits the plant to be widely grown and commercialized.
As of 2002.12.31, there were 87 crops approved for non-regulation status. The list of transgenic crops includes beets, chicory, corn, cotton, flax, melons, papaya, potatoes, rapeseed, rice, soybeans, squash, tobacco, tomatoes, and wheat among others.
References
USDA, Frequently Asked Questions: USDA and Biotechnology, United States Department of Agriculture, http://www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/faq.html, Accessed 2003-01-20.
APHIS, Petitions of Nonregulated Status Granted by APHIS, Last Updated 2002-08-02, United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, http://www.aphis.usda.gov/biotech/not_reg.html, Accessed 2003-01-20.
APHIS, Phenotypic Categories of Plants, Phenotypic Categories of Plants Field Tested in 2001 (Notifications), United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, was at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/biotech/slide1.html but is nolonger available, Accessed 2003-01-22.
Information Systems for Biotechnology, Crops No Longer Regulated By USDA: Approved and Pending, Last Updated 2002-12-31, Virginia Technical Institute and State University, http://www.nbiap.vt.edu/cfdocs/biopetitions1.cfm, Accessed 2003-01-21.
Syngenta, Position Statements: Golden Rice, Syngenta International AG, http://www.syngenta.com/en/popups/viewB.html, Accessed 2003-01-21.
UNICEF, Child Rights Campaign PSA: Vitamin A Global Initiative, UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/psa/vitamina/, Accessed 2003-01-21.