Food Biotechnology: Enhancing Our Food Supply

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1 Food Biotechnology: Enhancing Our Food Supply Food Biotechnology

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3 Food Biotechnology: Enhancing Our Food Supply You may have heard a lot about food biotechnology lately. If so, you may be wondering what it is and what it means to you. This brochure provides information about food biotechnology, its safety, and how it can help enhance the food you eat.

4 Food Biot What is Food Biotechnology? Food biotechnology uses what is known about plant science and genetics to improve food and how it is produced. Genes are responsible for traits like a person s eye color or a vegetable s taste. Using modern biotechnology, scientists can move genes for valuable traits from one plant or animal into another. This way, farmers can raise crops and animals that are protected from disease and produce more food. The food may also be improved for better taste or nutrition.

5 Is Food Biotechnology New? For centuries, farmers have moved and changed genes to produce better food more efficiently. The process began when our ancestors settled in one place to grow food. Early farmers learned to combine plants and provide new varieties of corn, soybeans, sunflowers, tomatoes, and other crops. This process is called crossbreeding. Although crossbreeding works, it takes a lot of time and effort. For example, if farmers want tomato plant A to have the color and size of tomato plant B, they crossbreed them to produce a new variety of plant. However, to get the two traits they want from plant B, farmers must also take the rest of plant B s 100,000 genes. To get rid of the unwanted genes, farmers use a process called back-crossing, which can take 10 to 12 years. With modern biotechnology, scientists can choose a specific trait and move only the genes for that trait into another plant. The process is precise and fast. echnology

6 Benefits of Food Biotechnology Biotechnology already helps us in many ways: Protection of the Environment. Scientists have made some foods, like papayas and potatoes, more resistant to disease. These crops need less chemical spray to protect them from harmful insects or viruses, which is better for water and wildlife. Other crops are protected from herbicides that are used to control weeds. Better weed control allows farmers to conserve soil by tilling the ground less often. Greater Crop Yields. Farmers also use biotechnology to help plants survive. For example, new varieties of corn and cotton ward off harmful insects, and improved soybeans can tolerate herbicides. Farmers can expect to harvest more crops from these hardier plants. Better Tasting, Fresher Foods. Sweeter peppers and tomatoes that ripen more slowly are just two examples of how biotechnology can produce fresher and better-tasting food. enefits

7 The Future of Biotechnology In the future, biotechnology may help us: Grow More Food on Less Land. There are six billion people living on Earth today. By the year 2050, that number will increase to nine billion.using biotechnology, farmers may be able to produce more crops on the land they already have. If we can get the food we need from these crops, we won t have to devote more land to farming. Developing countries will benefit most from this modern technology since they will have the largest population growth. Keep Food Safe to Eat. Scientists may be able to more accurately find unwanted viruses and bacteria that may be present in food. So, we will have an even lower risk for food-borne illnesses. Provide More Healthful Food. Enhancing some foods using biotechnology may help lower our risk for chronic diseases like cancer and heart disease and other health conditions. For example: - Some fruits and vegetables will contain more antioxidants, vitamin C, and vitamin E. - Cooking oils will be made from plants that contain fewer saturated fats. - Peanuts may contain less of the proteins that cause allergies. Keep Animal Feed Safe. Some types of fungus that can be found in corn release substances that can harm animals that eat them. These substances are already regulated in the United States, and biotechnology provides another tool that will help further reduce the amount of these substances in corn.

8 Choices: Enriched Rice Many people in developing countries rarely get all the vitamins they need. So, they can have many health problems. For example, lack of vitamin A causes blindness, and lack of iron can be harmful to many women and children. But using biotechnology, scientists have discovered a way to add vitamin A and more iron to rice. In countries where rice is one of the main foods of the diet, this new type of rice may one day protect some people from blindness and other health problems.

9 The Safety of Food Biotechnology The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviews the safety of all foods on the market. The FDA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and scientific community agree that foods produced using biotechnology are safe. Foods produced through either biotechnology or conventional methods must all meet the same high safety standards. The FDA regulates foods developed through biotechnology in the same way as foods produced by other methods. The FDA ensures the safety of these foods, and requires special labeling if the nutritional content of the food changes or if a substance that may cause allergies is added. The USDA and EPA also help regulate agricultural biotechnology to assure safety. Additionally, after a comprehensive review of the science in 2002, the Society of Toxicology found foods produced through biotechnology are as safe as traditional foods. Safety

10 Choices: Environmentally Friendly Corn Corn that is enhanced through biotechnology to contain less phytate, a component of corn, will help to reduce the impact of farm animals on the environment. The low-phytate corn can reduce unwanted phosphorus in animal manure, a potential threat to water quality.

11 For More Information You can get information about food and how it is produced from community health professionals, dietitians, extension agents, local farmers, and university programs dealing with food. The following Internet sites might also have the information you need: USDA s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, Biotechnology Regulatory Services FDA s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition Environmental Protection Agency The American Dietetic Association Council for Agricultural Science & Technology Institute of Food Technologists Society of Toxicology IFIC Foundation

12 International Food Information Council Foundation 1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW Suite 430 Washington, DC The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation has favorably reviewed this material through Favorable review means that medical information is accurate, but does not imply endorsement of any conclusions presented. 15M