How long has genetic engineering been used in agriculture and food production?
The first food products of biotechnology – an enzyme used in cheese production and a yeast used for baking – appeared on the market in 1990. Since 1995, farmers in the United States have been growing crops that are genetically engineered. You’ll sometimes hear these referred to as biotech crops or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). In 2001, an estimated 5.5 million farmers grew biotech crops on 130 million acres in about 15 countries, led by the U.S., Canada and Argentina. Virtually all of the biotech crops on the market today were developed to reduce crop damage by weeds, diseases and insects. What other products are genetically engineered? The food industry has used genetically engineered bacteria and yeasts for more than 20 years to produce vitamins and nutritional supplements. Biotechnology also has produced medicines to treat a number of human health problems, including arthritis and heart disease. Virtually all insulin used to treat diabetes is now produced by biotechnology.
