Genetically modified crops (GM crops) are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been

modified using genetic engineeringmethods. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the
plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to
certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, resistance to chemical
treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide), or improving the nutrient profile of the crop.

Farmers have widely adopted GM technology. Acreage increased from 1.7 million hectares in 1996
to 185.1 million hectares in 2016, some 12% of global cropland. As of 2016, major crop (soybean,
maize, canola and cotton) traits consist of herbicide tolerance (95.9 million hectares) insect
resistance (25.2 million hectares), or both (58.5 million hectares). In 2015, 53.6 million ha of GM
maize were under cultivation (almost 1/3 of the maize crop).

Eg: 1)
Corn
Almost 85 perecent of corn grown in the U.S. is genetically modified.

2) Soy
Soy is the most heavily genetically modified food in the country.

5) Canola
Canola is genetically engineered form was approved in 1996,

6) Sugar Beets
A very controversial vegetable, sugar beets were approved in 2005

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Advantages of Genetically Modified or GM Crops
1. It improves production and raise farmer's income.

2. It reduces the use of pesticide and insecticide during farming that might be great moves for
the betterment of the food supply.

4. It can produce more in small area of land.

Dv

1. The production imposes high risks to the disruption of ecosystem and biodiversity
because the “better” traits produced from engineering genes can result in the favouring
of one organism.
2. 4. It is biologically altered. Hence, biotech foods may pose a human health risk.
3. 5. The excessive production of genetically modified foods will be rendered ineffective