Editing Agriculture (section)

=== Genetic engineering ===
{{Main|Genetic engineering}}
{{See also|Genetically modified food|Genetically modified crops|Regulation of the release of genetic modified organisms|Genetically modified food controversies}}
[[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 382 Genetically Modified Potatoes.jpg|thumb|[[Genetically modified crops|Genetically modified]] potato plants (left) resist virus diseases that damage unmodified plants (right).]]

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are [[organism]]s whose [[Genetics|genetic]] material has been altered by genetic engineering techniques generally known as [[recombinant DNA technology]]. Genetic engineering has expanded the genes available to breeders to use in creating desired germlines for new crops. Increased durability, nutritional content, insect and virus resistance and herbicide tolerance are a few of the attributes bred into crops through genetic engineering.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/index.html |title=20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=16 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327015739/http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/index.html |archive-date=27 March 2013}}</ref> For some, GMO crops cause [[food safety]] and [[food labeling regulations|food labeling]] concerns. Numerous countries have placed restrictions on the production, import or use of GMO foods and crops.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93975745_peru-bans-genetically-modified-foods-as-us-lags.htm |title=Peru bans genetically modified foods as US lags |date=28 November 2012 |publisher=Current TV |access-date=7 May 2013 |author=Whiteside, Stephanie |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324013255/http://current.com/groups/news-blog/93975745_peru-bans-genetically-modified-foods-as-us-lags.htm |archive-date=24 March 2013}}</ref> The [[Biosafety Protocol]], an international treaty, regulates the trade of GMOs. There is ongoing discussion regarding the labeling of foods made from GMOs, and while the EU currently requires all GMO foods to be labeled, the US does not.<ref>{{cite book |author=Shiva, Vandana |author-link=Vandana Shiva |title=Earth Democracy: Justice, Sustainability, and Peace |publisher=[[South End Press]] |location=Cambridge, MA |year=2005}}</ref>

Herbicide-resistant seeds have a gene implanted into their genome that allows the plants to tolerate exposure to herbicides, including [[glyphosate]]. These seeds allow the farmer to grow a crop that can be sprayed with herbicides to control weeds without harming the resistant crop. Herbicide-tolerant crops are used by farmers worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5031e/y5031e0i.htm |title=Benefits and risks of the use of herbicide-resistant crops |author1=Kathrine Hauge Madsen |author2=Jens Carl Streibig |publisher=FAO |access-date=4 May 2013 |website=Weed Management for Developing Countries |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604013840/http://www.fao.org/docrep/006/y5031e/y5031e0i.htm |archive-date=4 June 2013}}</ref> With the increasing use of herbicide-tolerant crops, comes an increase in the use of glyphosate-based herbicide sprays. In some areas glyphosate resistant weeds have developed, causing farmers to switch to other herbicides.<ref name="Farmers Guide to GMOs">{{cite web |url=http://www.rafiusa.org/pubs/Farmers_Guide_to_GMOs.pdf |title=Farmers Guide to GMOs |publisher=Rural Advancement Foundation International |access-date=16 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501145751/http://www.rafiusa.org/pubs/Farmers_Guide_to_GMOs.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2012 |date=11 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-02-13/report-raises-alarm-over-superweedsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |title=Report Raises Alarm over 'Super-weeds' |journal=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=13 February 2008 |author=Hindo, Brian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226181242/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2008-02-13/report-raises-alarm-over-superweedsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice |archive-date=26 December 2016}}</ref> Some studies also link widespread glyphosate usage to iron deficiencies in some crops, which is both a crop production and a nutritional quality concern, with potential economic and health implications.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ozturk |display-authors=etal |year=2008 |title=Glyphosate inhibition of ferric reductase activity in iron deficient sunflower roots |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5669940 |journal=[[New Phytologist]] |volume=177 |issue=4 |pages=899–906 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02340.x |pmid=18179601 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113232909/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5669940 |archive-date=13 January 2017 |doi-access=free|bibcode=2008NewPh.177..899O }}</ref>

Other GMO crops used by growers include insect-resistant crops, which have a gene from the soil bacterium ''[[Bacillus thuringiensis]]'' (Bt), which produces a toxin specific to insects. These crops resist damage by insects.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/biotech/insect.htm |title=Insect-resistant Crops Through Genetic Engineering |publisher=[[University of Illinois]] |access-date=4 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121073949/http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/biotech/insect.htm |archive-date=21 January 2013}}</ref> Some believe that similar or better pest-resistance traits can be acquired through traditional breeding practices, and resistance to various pests can be gained through hybridization or cross-pollination with wild species. In some cases, wild species are the primary source of resistance traits; some tomato cultivars that have gained resistance to at least 19 diseases did so through crossing with wild populations of tomatoes.<ref>{{cite book |last=Kimbrell |first=A. |title=Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington |year=2002}}</ref>

{{anchor|Criticisms}}