Editing Biotechnology (section)

===Agriculture===

[[Genetically modified crops]] ("GM crops", or "biotech crops") are plants used in [[agriculture]], the [[DNA]] of which has been modified with [[genetic engineering]] techniques. In most cases, the main aim is to introduce a new [[trait (biology)|trait]] that does not occur naturally in the species. Biotechnology firms can contribute to future food security by improving the nutrition and viability of urban agriculture. Furthermore, the protection of intellectual property rights encourages private sector investment in agrobiotechnology.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests,<ref name="news.google.co.uk">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A0YyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4631,1776980&hl= Genetically Altered Potato Ok'd For Crops] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731032615/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=A0YyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jOYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4631,1776980&hl= |date=July 31, 2022 }} Lawrence Journal-World – May 6, 1995</ref> diseases,<ref>{{Cite book |last=National Academy of Sciences |title=Transgenic Plants and World Agriculture |publisher=National Academy Press |year=2001 |location=Washington}}</ref> stressful environmental conditions,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ilsi.org/Documents/2011%20AM%20Presentations/CERAPaarlberg.pdf |title=Drought Tolerant GMO Maize in Africa, Anticipating Regulatory Hurdles |last=Paarlburg |first=Robert |date=January 2011 |publisher=International Life Sciences Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222081325/http://www.ilsi.org/Documents/2011%20AM%20Presentations/CERAPaarlberg.pdf |archive-date=December 22, 2014 |access-date=April 25, 2011 |name-list-style=vanc}}</ref> resistance to chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a [[herbicide]]<ref>Carpenter J. & Gianessi L. (1999). [http://agbioforum.org/v2n2/v2n2a02-carpenter.htm Herbicide tolerant soybeans: Why growers are adopting Roundup Ready varieties] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119133446/http://www.agbioforum.org/v2n2/v2n2a02-carpenter.htm |date=November 19, 2012 }}. AgBioForum, 2(2), 65–72.</ref>), reduction of spoilage,<ref name="Haroldsen1">{{Cite journal |last1=Haroldsen |first1=Victor M. |last2=Paulino |first2=Gabriel |last3=Chi-ham |first3=Cecilia |last4=Bennett |first4=Alan B. |year=2012 |title=Research and adoption of biotechnology strategies could improve California fruit and nut crops |journal=California Agriculture |volume=66 |issue=2 |pages=62–69 |doi=10.3733/ca.v066n02p62 |name-list-style=vanc|doi-access=free |url=http://calag.ucanr.edu/archive/?article=ca.v066n02p62}}</ref> or improving the nutrient profile of the crop.<ref>[http://www.irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=10202&Itemid=100571&lang=en About Golden Rice] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102112216/http://www.irri.org/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&layout=item&id=10202&Itemid=100571&lang=en |date=November 2, 2012 }}. Irri.org. Retrieved on March 20, 2013.</ref> Examples in non-food crops include production of [[Plant manufactured pharmaceuticals|pharmaceutical agents]],<ref>Gali Weinreb and Koby Yeshayahou for Globes May 2, 2012. [http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000745325&fid=1725 FDA approves Protalix Gaucher treatment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529030847/http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp?did=1000745325&fid=1725 |date=May 29, 2013 }}</ref> [[biofuel]]s,<ref>Carrington, Damien (January 19, 2012) [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jan/19/gm-microbe-seaweed-biofuels GM microbe breakthrough paves way for large-scale seaweed farming for biofuels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511010433/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jan/19/gm-microbe-seaweed-biofuels |date=May 11, 2017 }} The Guardian. Retrieved March 12, 2012</ref> and other industrially useful goods,<ref>{{Cite journal |vauthors=van Beilen JB, Poirier Y |s2cid=25954199 |date=May 2008 |title=Production of renewable polymers from crop plants |journal=The Plant Journal |volume=54 |issue=4 |pages=684–701 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-313X.2008.03431.x |pmid=18476872|doi-access=free }}</ref> as well as for [[bioremediation]].<ref>Strange, Amy (September 20, 2011) [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0913/1224304027463.html Scientists engineer plants to eat toxic pollution] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913133755/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0913/1224304027463.html |date=September 13, 2011 }} The Irish Times. Retrieved September 20, 2011</ref><ref name="Diaz">{{Cite book |editor=Diaz E |url=https://archive.org/details/microbialbiodegr0000unse |title=Microbial Biodegradation: Genomics and Molecular Biology |publisher=Caister Academic Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-904455-17-2 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

Farmers have widely adopted GM technology. Between 1996 and 2011, the total surface area of land cultivated with GM crops had increased by a factor of 94, from {{convert|17000 to 1,600,000|km2|acre|sp=us}}.<ref name=James2011 /> 10% of the world's crop lands were planted with GM crops in 2010.<ref name="James2011">{{Cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/43/executivesummary/default.asp |title=ISAAA Brief 43, Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2011 |year=2011 |website=ISAAA Briefs |publisher=International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) |location=Ithaca, New York |access-date=June 2, 2012 |vauthors=James C |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210025832/http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/43/executivesummary/default.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2011, 11 different transgenic crops were grown commercially on {{convert|395|e6acre|e6ha|abbr=off}} in 29 countries such as the US, [[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], [[India]], Canada, China, Paraguay, Pakistan, South Africa, Uruguay, Bolivia, Australia, Philippines, Myanmar, Burkina Faso, Mexico and Spain.<ref name=James2011 />

[[Genetically modified food]]s are foods produced from [[organism]]s that have had specific changes introduced into their [[DNA]] with the methods of [[genetic engineering]]. These techniques have allowed for the introduction of new crop traits as well as a far greater control over a food's genetic structure than previously afforded by methods such as [[selective breeding]] and [[mutation breeding]].<ref>[http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file15655.pdf GM Science Review First Report] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016100707/http://www.bis.gov.uk/files/file15655.pdf |date=October 16, 2013 }}, Prepared by the UK GM Science Review panel (July 2003). Chairman Professor Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government, P 9</ref> Commercial sale of genetically modified foods began in 1994, when [[Calgene]] first marketed its [[Flavr Savr]] delayed ripening tomato.<ref name="James 1996">{{Cite web |url=http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Publications/pdfs/isaaabriefs/Briefs%201.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Publications/pdfs/isaaabriefs/Briefs%201.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Global Review of the Field Testing and Commercialization of Transgenic Plants: 1986 to 1995 |last=James |first=Clive |year=1996 |publisher=The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications |access-date=July 17, 2010 |name-list-style=vanc}}</ref> To date most genetic modification of foods have primarily focused on [[cash crop]]s in high demand by farmers such as [[Transgenic soybean|soybean]], [[Transgenic maize|corn]], [[canola]], and [[cotton seed oil]]. These have been engineered for resistance to pathogens and herbicides and better nutrient profiles. GM livestock have also been experimentally developed; in November 2013 none were available on the market,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/developmentapprovalprocess/geneticengineering/geneticallyengineeredanimals/ucm113672.htm |title=Consumer Q&A |date=March 6, 2009 |publisher=Fda.gov |access-date=December 29, 2012 |archive-date=January 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110170104/http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/developmentapprovalprocess/geneticengineering/geneticallyengineeredanimals/ucm113672.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> but in 2015 the FDA approved the first GM salmon for commercial production and consumption.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/developmentapprovalprocess/geneticengineering/geneticallyengineeredanimals/ucm280853.htm |title=AquAdvantage Salmon |publisher=FDA |access-date=July 20, 2018 |archive-date=December 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231004929/http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/GeneticEngineering/GeneticallyEngineeredAnimals/ucm280853.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

There is a [[scientific consensus]]<ref name="Nicolia2013"/><ref name="FAO" /><ref name="Ronald2011" /><ref name="Also"/> that currently available food derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food,<ref name="AAAS2012"/><ref name="ECom2010" /><ref name="AMA2001"/><ref name="LoC2015" /><ref name="NAS2016" /> but that each GM food needs to be tested on a case-by-case basis before introduction.<ref name="WHOFAQ"/><ref name="Haslberger2003" /><ref name="BMA2004"/> Nonetheless, members of the public are much less likely than scientists to perceive GM foods as safe.<ref name="PEW2015" /><ref name="Marris2001" /><ref name="PABE" /><ref name="Scott2016" /> The legal and regulatory status of GM foods varies by country, with some nations banning or restricting them, and others permitting them with widely differing degrees of regulation.<ref name="loc.gov" /><ref name="Bashshur" /><ref name="Sifferlin" /><ref name="Council on Foreign Relations" />

GM crops also provide a number of ecological benefits, if not used in excess.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{Cite news |last=Pollack |first=Andrew |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/business/energy-environment/14crop.html |title=Study Says Overuse Threatens Gains From Modified Crops |date=April 13, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]] |name-list-style=vanc |access-date=February 24, 2017 |archive-date=November 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121075939/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/business/energy-environment/14crop.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Insect-resistant crops have proven to lower pesticide usage, therefore reducing the environmental impact of pesticides as a whole.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brookes |first1=Graham |last2=Barfoot |first2=Peter |date=2017-05-08 |title=Farm income and production impacts of using GM crop technology 1996–2015 |journal=GM Crops & Food |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=156–193 |doi=10.1080/21645698.2017.1317919 |pmid=28481684 |pmc=5617554 |issn=2164-5698}}</ref> However, opponents have objected to GM crops per se on several grounds, including environmental concerns, whether food produced from GM crops is safe, whether GM crops are needed to address the world's food needs, and economic concerns raised by the fact these organisms are subject to intellectual property law.

Biotechnology has several applications in the realm of food security. Crops like [[Golden rice]] are engineered to have higher nutritional content, and there is potential for food products with longer shelf lives.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tyczewska |first1=Agata |last2=Twardowski |first2=Tomasz |last3=Woźniak-Gientka |first3=Ewa |date=January 2023 |title=Agricultural biotechnology for sustainable food security |journal=Trends in Biotechnology |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=331–341 |doi=10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.12.013 |pmid=36710131 |pmc=9881846 |s2cid=256304868 |issn=0167-7799}}</ref> Though not a form of agricultural biotechnology, vaccines can help prevent diseases found in animal agriculture. Additionally, agricultural biotechnology can expedite breeding processes in order to yield faster results and provide greater quantities of food.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Sairam |first1=R. V. |last2=Prakash |first2=C. S. |date=July 2005 |title=OBPC Symposium: maize 2004 & beyond—Can agricultural biotechnology contribute to global food security? |journal=In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant |volume=41 |issue=4 |pages=424–430 |doi=10.1079/ivp2005663 |bibcode=2005IVCDB..41..424S |s2cid=25855065 |issn=1054-5476}}</ref> Transgenic [[biofortification]] in [[cereal]]s has been considered as a promising method to combat malnutrition in India and other countries.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Kumar |first1=Pankaj |title=Recent Progress in Cereals Biofortification to Alleviate Malnutrition in India: An Overview |date=2021 |work=Agricultural Biotechnology: Latest Research and Trends |pages=253–280 |place=Singapore |publisher=Springer Nature Singapore |isbn=978-981-16-2338-7 |last2=Kumar |first2=Arun |last3=Dhiman |first3=Karuna |last4=Srivastava |first4=Dinesh Kumar|doi=10.1007/978-981-16-2339-4_11 |s2cid=245834290 }}</ref>