GMOs in the economy
Thirteen countries grew genetically engineered crops commercially in 2000, and those manufactured in the USA most. In 2000 68% of all genetically modified crops have been grown by farmers in the U.S.. For comparison, Argentina, Canada and China produced only 23%, 7% and 1% respectively. Other countries that grew commercial GM crops in 2000 were Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, Spain and Uruguay.
Soybeans and corn are the two most widespread crops (82% of all GM crops harvested in 2000), cotton, canola (or rapeseed) and potatoes behind. 74% of these GM crops modified for herbicide tolerance, 19% were modified for insect pest resistance, and 7% were modified for both herbicide tolerance and pest tolerance. Worldwide area of GM crops has increased 25 times in just 5 years, approximately 4.3 million acres in 1996 to 109,000,000 acres in 2000 - almost twice the area of the UK. Approximately 99 million acres are devoted to GM crops in the U.S. and Argentina alone.
In the U.S. approximately 54% of soybeans grown in 2000 were genetically-modified, compared to 42% in 1998 and only 7% in 1996. In 2000, genetically-modified cotton varieties account 61% of the total cotton crop, up from 42% in 1998, and 15% in 1996. GM corn and also had similar but less dramatic increase. Maize production increased to 25% of all corn grown in 2000, almost the same as 1998 (26%), but from 1.5% in 1996. As expected, pesticides, herbicides and the use of these GM varieties are reduced and for the most part, yields were increased (for details see the publication of the UDSA https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aer786/) .
Economic Issues
Bringing a GM food market is quite long and expensive process, and of course agricultural biotech companies want to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technology and GM plants are patented and patent infringement is a major concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries can not afford the seeds of GM crops, thereby way widening the gap between rich and poor. We hope that in a humanitarian gesture, more companies and non-profit organizations will follow the lead of the Rockefeller Foundation and offer their products at lower costs for poor countries.
Patent law can be difficult because the farmers alleged that they involuntarily grew Monsanto engineered strains when their crops were cross-pollinated shows. One way to combat possible patent infringement is to introduce a "suicide gene" into GM plants. These plants will be viable only for one growing season and will produce sterile seeds that do not germinate. Farmers will need to purchase a new supply of seeds each year. However, it will be financially disastrous for farmers in third world countries who can not afford to buy seeds every year and traditionally set aside part of his harvest to plant the next growing season. In an open letter to the public, Monsanto is committed to abandon all research using this suicide gene technology.
Market release of genetically modified (GM) food crops in Europe has led to widespread public concern, much of which is based on uncertainties related to the safety of humans, animals and the environment. One of the major problems in risk assessment of GM crops is whether the unexpectedly dangerous metabolic disorders (so-called side effects) may be made in the body due to genetic modification that could affect the food or nutritional status. It is known that there are no adequate and effective animal models to identify and trace the sources of potential side effects exist. The project aims at developing new methodologies that are of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to assess the risk of possible food-borne hazards. Implicit in this objective is necessary to develop new knowledge that will serve as a basis for understanding the effects of genetic modification process of metabolic processes in plants. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of technology and innovation combined "cell factory" (genomics, proteomics and metabolomics)