Frequently Asked Questions about Genetically Engineered Organisms

What is genetic engineering (GE)?
Genetic engineering is the transfer of genetic material (genes) from one organism to another. It may be within the same species or between totally unrelated species. The technology allows transfer of genetic information across natural species barriers in ways that are not possible with conventional breeding and hybridization. For example, genes from bacteria, fungi, plants or animals can be transferred into one another.

Why do genetic engineering?
Humans have been modifying the genetic makeup of crops and animals for centuries through selection and conventional breeding. However, genetic engineering offers the ability to incorporate new genes that may be beneficial for producers and consumers.

Who regulates genetically engineered products?
In the U.S. genetically engineered organisms are regulated by three agencies:

Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Is it safe to grow?
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Is it safe for the environment?
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - Is it safe for humans and animals to eat?

Current regulations are covered at U.S. Regulatory Agencies Unified Biotechnology Website

What food crops are genetically engineered?

Soybeans - US farmers planted 94% of the 2007 soybean acreage with varieties genetically engineered to be tolerant to herbicides. Soybean oil, soy protein, and soy lecithin are found in a wide array of processed foods.

Corn - In 2007, 73% of the US field corn acreage was planted with genetically engineered varieties. 'Stacked' varieties in which both herbicide and insect resistant traits are present were planted on 28% of the acreage. Herbicide tolerant and insect resistant single traits were planted on 52 and 49% of the acreage, respectively. A portion of the fresh market sweet corn acreage was also planted to insect resistant varieties. Corn oil, corn syrup, corn flour and corn starch are used in many foods.

Cotton - In 2007, 87% of US cotton acreage was planted in GE varieties that are herbicide resistant and/or insect resistant. While cotton is primarily thought of as a fiber crop, the seed is processed into cottonseed oil for use in many fried snacks, peanut butter, and other products.

Canola - Herbicide resistant varieties were grown on 62% of the Canadian rapeseed acreage. Canola oil is extracted from rapeseed and is a common cooking oil.

Other GE plants - Herbicide tolerant rice and disease resistant papaya, squash and zucchini varieties are in the market. FlavrSavr tomato and insect resistant Bt potatoes were marketed at one time. GE varieties of sugar beet and radicchio have been approved, but are not currently marketed.

Why are farmers planting GE crops?

Adoption of GE crops is occurring at an unprecedented rate because it offers economic and management benefits to producers. The most commonly planted GE crops are those with resistance to herbicides or insects.

Herbicide tolerant (HT) crops - Herbicides are used on the majority of US row crop acres every year to prevent losses from weeds. Genetic engineering has produced crop varieties that can tolerate certain herbicides that previously would have destroyed the crop along with the weeds. Varieties tolerant to glyphosate and glufosinate are the most common. Glyphosate (Roundup) has been available to homeowners and farmers for over 30 years, but can now be used in new ways. Farmers are able to achieve improved weed control while reducing time, costs, tillage and soil erosion losses.

Insect resistant crops - A common soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis also known as Bt, has been used by farmers and home gardeners for decades to control the larval stage of several butterflies and moths. Scientists have spliced Bt genes into corn, cotton and potato varieties so the crops can produce their own toxins and be protected from insects.

Bt corn is protected from European corn borer, a pest causing losses in excess of 300 million bushels per year. In 1999, with less than 25 percent of the corn acreage planted in Bt corn varieties, damage was decreased by 66 million bushels or the equivalent of 500,000 acres of production.

Conventional cotton is treated with several insecticide sprays per year and in many areas insects are becoming resistant (not controlled). In 1999, growers using Bt cotton were able to reduce insecticide use by 2.7 million pounds, increase yields by 260 million pounds, and increased net revenues by $99 million.

Are we eating GE foods?
Processed foods such as cereals, snacks, sodas, and prepared meals often contain oils, starches, sweeteners, or emulsifiers from corn and soybeans. Recent estimates suggest that 60 to 70% of processed foods contain one or more ingredients from genetically engineered crops.

Are GE foods safe to eat?
The FDA considers the safety of a new GE food in comparison to similar non-GE foods. A GE food must be labeled or kept off the market entirely if it has any detectable difference in nutrition or allergens from the comparable non-GE food. There is no evidence to date that GE foods on the market are less safe than their conventionally bred counterparts.

What about labeling GE foods?
Labeling of GE versus non-GE foods would require segregation of crop products from seed planting all the way through harvest, transport, processing and marketing. Segregation would be extremely difficult and expensive. An alternative is to choose certified organic foods since their standards prohibit the use of genetic engineering.

Are there environmental impacts from GE crops?
The environmental risks of genetic engineering must be weighed in comparison to existing practices. GE crops that reduce pesticide use and increase conservation tillage will have a positive effect on the environment. Impacts on non-target organisms have been minimal compared to many conventional pesticides. As new GE traits are introduced, the risks of pollen drift, outcrossing, pest resistance and non-target effects will require continued monitoring.

What GE crops are in the future?
A common complaint is that biotechnology has benefited large corporations and producers, but not consumers. However, the next generation of biotech crops has a much wider and more exciting range of benefits. For example:

Golden rice - higher beta carotene content would reduce Vitamin A deficiencies and resulting childhood blindness

Cavity fighting apples - bacterial gene coding for a protein would prevent decay causing bacteria from attaching to teeth

Antioxidant tomatoes - higher flavonol production from a petunia gene would help neutralize harmful tissue-damaging molecules circulating in the body

Plant based vaccines - vaccines produced in bananas and tomatoes would confer resistance to the liver disease hepatitis B at a cost of about 2 cents per dose, less than 1% of the conventional hepatitis vaccine

Salt-tolerant tomatoes - gene from another plant would help tomatoes tolerate salt concentrations in the soil up to 50 times higher than normal

Iron-pumping rice - genes from barley help rice extract iron from poor soils and dramatically increase yield in regions of the world where rice is a staple crop

Improved turf grass - herbicide tolerant, insect and disease resistant, reduced growth rate turf varieties would require less pesticides, fertilizer, water and mowing; Roundup Ready bluegrass and bentgrass are likely to be first

For more information, contact Betty Marose

Last updated: 03/13/2009