and Seed Industry

• Bt-Cry3Bb1

The expression Bt-Cry3Bb1 transgenic protein results in insect resistance. The protein is effective against the larvae of coleopteran pests such as the corn rootworm. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of corn.

• eCry3.1Ab

The expression of eCry3.1Ab transgenic protein results in insect resistance. The protein is effective against coleopteran and lepidopteran insects. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of corn.

• Bt-Cry2Ab

The expression of Bt-Cry2Ab transgenic protein results in insect resistance. The protein is effective against the larvae of lepidopteran pests such as the cotton bollworm, pink bollworm and tobacco budworm. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of cotton.

• PAT

The expression of PAT transgenic protein in plants results in Phosphinothricin (PPT) herbicide tolerance, specifically glufosinate ammonium. It is also often used as a selectable marker for genetic transformation. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of corn, rapeseed/canola, cotton, chicory, sugarbeet, and rice.

• VIP3A

The expression of VIP3A transgenic protein in plants results in insect resistance. This protein is effective against the larvae of lepidopteran pests such as the cotton bollworm/corn earworm, tobacco budworm, pink bollworm, fall armyworm, beet armyworm, soybean looper, and the adoption rate was already 44% by 2016. In Pakistan, 97% of cotton acreage was biotech.

Numerous approvals

Many other countries do not cultivate GM crops, but have approved them for import as food and feed. In 2016, there were 115 food approvals, 87 feed approvals, and 49 cultivation approvals, for a total of 251 approvals. These approvals are divided among 87 events from seven crops. The most commonly approved GMOs are herbicide-tolerant traits. Since 2007, the number of approvals for stacked events has been more than for single events, and in 2016, 82.6% of the approved events were stacked.

The trait distribution of approved events in 2016 was as follows: 14% insect-resistant, 15% product quality, 19% herbicide-tolerant, 6% herbicide-tolerant + pollination control, 3% herbicide-tolerant + product quality, cabbage looper, cotton leaf perforator, black cutworm, and the western bean cutworm. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of corn and cotton.

• PMI

The PMI protein (phosphomannose isomerase) is expressed by a gene derived from E. coli. This protein allows growth on mannose and is often used as a selectable marker in GM corn.

• NPTII

The NPTII protein (neomycin phosphotransferase) is expressed by a gene derived from E. coli. This protein allows resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics such as kanamycin, neomycin, paromomycin, and geneticin (G418). It is a commonly used selectable marker.

• cspB

The cspB (cold shock protein B) protein is expressed by a gene derived from Bacillus subtilis. This protein allows for improved performance under water stress conditions.

• DMO

The expression of the DMO protein (dicamba monooxygenase) results in dicamba herbicide tolerance. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of soybeans and cottonseed.

• aad-12

The expression of the aad-12 (aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase 12) protein results in 2,4-D herbicide tolerance. This protein is expressed in commercial varieties of cotton and soybeans.

3% disease-resistant, 3% insect-resistant + disease-resistant, 31% herbicide-tolerant + insect-resistant, and 6% others.

The global use of biotech crops is increasing. These technologies can help provide new crops with higher yields, higher disease resistance, resistance to adverse environmental conditions, and increased nutritional value. World opinion about the value of GMOs, however, is divided. Yet it is indisputable that GM crops have become a component of a strategy for many countries and companies looking to feed rapidly growing populations.

Reference

ISAA brief. (2016). Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016 ISAAA Brief 52-2016, February 23, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2017.

It is imperative to thoroughly clean any grinding equipment after use, as crosscontamination is a huge problem in GMO testing.