GMOs have been studied for over 30 years.
In the last 25 years, GMO crops are one primary agricultural tool, helping consumers, farmers and rural communities survive droughts, global warming, famine and food insecurity. However, the science of GMOs and selective breeding goes back much further to the advent of crop cultivation and the industrialization of agriculture. While it has only been in the last few decades that GMOs have become commercially available, farmers have been intentionally cultivating the genetic makeup of all domesticated crops for over 10,000 years.
Every fruit, vegetable, and grain that is commercially available today has been altered, modified, and/or engineered by human hands, including organic and heirloom seeds. Through bioengineering and GM technology, real-world problems of food insecurity, reduced water supplies, insect or pest damage, health concerns and many others, can be remedied.
For example, in the past, a GM tobacco plant has been used to develop a treatment for the Ebola virus. While genetically modified citrus may directly fight citrus greening, a plant disease that is devastating the citrus industry. A research center is developing BioCassava Plus; this version of cassava is scientifically more nutritious, higher-yielding, and more marketable. Cassava is a staple crop consumed by more than 700 million people worldwide.
To mark the 25th anniversary of GMOs becoming available, GMO Answers recently developed a list of 25 things to know about GMOs, from current GMOs to GMOs in development that could solve problems like malnutrition and blindness.
For even more myths and the science that shows the truth of GMOs value to the world, visit our GMOs: Myths vs Facts