Genetically Modified Crops, Production, Detection Methods and its Biosafety Implications: A Scientific Review

Abstract

Ali Basha, N.M. and A.M. Abdul Kader. 2022. Genetically Modified Crops, Production, Detection Methods and its Biosafety Implications: A Scientific Review. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 40(3): 260-279. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-40.3.260279 Ensuring food security and nutrition is critical for all countries in order to overcome the problems of hunger and malnutrition, taking into consideration the various current challenges of high population rate, social and political turmoil, and degradation of natural resources, forced migration and human disease pandemics. Agricultural biotechnology contributes in enhancing agricultural productivity, food security, and livelihoods. 25 years passed since the world introduced and embraced biotech crops in 1996. Such improved genetically modified (GM) crop varieties have many useful traits such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, in addition to improved nutrion value, and by adopting stringent science- scrutiny and safety measures. In this context, the Biosafety Cartagena Protocol was approved to ensure the safe handling, transfer and use of living organisms that have been modified using modern biotechnology. Socioeconomic and environmental benefits have been documented by credible and independent agencies around the world. Therefore, products derived from agricultural biotechnology, especially those used to manage agricultural pests, have become one of the world fastest growing agricultural trade commodities, providing food, feed, clothing, and eco-friendly biofuels. Not to mention the development of the genome editing technology using CRISPR/Cas9, which is another step closer to developing and cultivating new varieties of agricultural crops through the use of accurate, efficient and affordable techniques for genome editing. On the other hand, researchers have developed rapid and standardized methods for the detection of genetically modified plants and seeds to facilitate testing and monitoring genetic modification taking place at the global level in order to comply with the biosafety regulations and laws. Keywords: Biosafety, biosafety clearing-house (BCH), Cartagena protocol on biosafety, genetic engineering, genetically modified crops, GMCs, GMOs