GM Corn Research Articles

The evolution of China's regulation of agricultural biotechnology.

To ensure safe use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), since 1993, China has made great efforts to establish and improve the safety regulatory system for GMOs. Here, we summarize and analyze the regulatory framework of agricultural GMOs, and the progress in regulatory approval of GM crops in China. In general, the development of GMO safety regulations underwent four stages: exploration (1993-2000), development (2001-2010), improvement (2011-2020) and current (2021-present) stage. The first formal regulation was promulgated in 1993, which provided a basis for further development of the regulations, during the exploration stage, when insect-resistant GM cotton, expressing genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), was approved for cultivation. During the development stage, the Chinese government issued a series of administrative measures, which covered almost all the fields relative to GMO safety when the basic regulatory system was established. Along with the controversy over GMO safety, the regulations have been further, and greatly improved, during improvement stage. From 2021, a few additional revisions have been made, and meanwhile, the new regulation on gene-edited crops was introduced with the development of biotechnology, forming a relative complete regulation and law system for China. The well-developed GMO regulations establishes a firm basis for safe use of GM crops in China. Currently, GM cotton and GM papaya have been widely grown on a large scale in China that have brought great economic and ecological benefits. In addition, 12 corn events, 3 soybean events, and 2 rice events have also obtained biosafety certification, but presently, these lines have yet to enter commercial production. However, several GM soybean and corn events have entered pilot industrialization, and can soon be expected to be commercially grown in China. In addition to planting, six GM crops, including soybean, corn, cotton, canola, papaya and sugar beet, with a total of 64 events, have been approved for import as processing material in China.

Investigating the Effect of Nudges on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Genetically Modified Corn Oil

Shifting from conventional methods of food production to genetic modification methods benefits sustainable agri-food production and environmental preservation. However, one of the main problems genetically modified food manufacturers have ever had to deal with is the public acceptability of GM foods. This study has two major objectives. First, it intends to apply principles from behavioral economics to investigate how consumers’ willingness to pay for GM corn oil can be affected. For this purpose, two different nudges are tested by providing consumers with positive information regarding GMO and changing the wording of the GMO label. Then, a comparison between the effectiveness of each of them is provided. Second, it investigates the impact of trust in GM food institutions, GMO information, and perceived GMO risk on both WTP for GM edible oil and the effectiveness of each nudge. A between-subjects choice experiment with a sample size of 550 Iranian corn oil consumers was conducted in Mashhad from March to April 2021. The results of mixed logit models indicate that both nudges affected consumer valuation of GM corn oil significantly, while their effectiveness differed according to the consumer level of trust in the GM food institutions and the perceived risk of GMO. Increasing consumer trust and information raises the WTP for GM corn oil; however, perceived risk has no effect. This study introduces effortless tools that GM food manufacturers can consider in their marketing strategies to affect consumers in the desired way.

Economic Assessment of GM Corn Use in the Philippines

Economic Assessment of GM Corn Use in the Philippines

Efficiency of biological control for fall armyworm resistant to the protein Cry1F.

Understanding the ecological and toxicological relationship between genetically modified cultivars (GM) and biological control agents is of great importance for discussions related to the compatability of GM cultivars and integrated management strategies for pest resistance. The present study evaluated the search behavior and predatory capacity of Orius insidiosus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Doru luteipes (Scudder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) on eggs and caterpillars of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) resistant or not to the protein Cry1F expressed in Bt corn. To determine the search time, a stopwatch was run until the capture of the first prey, predation capacity was evaluated by counting the prey remaining after 24 hours of infestation. The injuries of S. frugiperda in genetically modified and conventional corn in the presence and absence of predators was also evaluated. The predators were not able to distinguish between resistant and susceptible prey (eggs or caterpillars), given the predatory behaviour observed. There was no difference in searching time or predatory capacity between the predators for eggs and caterpillars of either resistant or susceptible S. frugiperda. In the presence of predators, the injury scores for resistant S. frugiperda on the Bt corn plants were lower. It was concluded that O. insidiosus and D. luteipes did not notice the presence of the protein Cry1F in the prey S. frugiperda, which may facilitate the combined use of GM corn and biological control in integrated management programs and for management of pest resistance.

Estimation of the ratio of GM material within food production cost

There has been an ongoing debate on the strengthening of the GM food labeling system in Korea. In order to effectively assess the impacts of strengthening GMO labeling policy from the production side, the fundamental research on the rise of the expected cost in food production is needed. In this study, the input ratio of GM raw material costs within production costs, which are variable costs in the production of food, is analyzed by classifying the GM raw material cost for food products into 22 categories. Scenario analysis is carried out to make reasonable assumptions on how much GM soybeans and corn is demanded by food manufacturing companies that are sensitive to the acceptability of GM food by domestic consumers. Three scenarios are designed in such a way that the input ratio of GM raw material cost is assumed to be 100%, 75%, and 50%. As a result of scenario analysis, the food product with the highest GM input ratio in the final goods is found to be edible oils (28.2%), and the input ratios of GM for tofu or jellied food, soy milk, and paste are relatively low at 2.4%, 1.7%, and 3.4%, respectively. The results of this analysis suggest that if GM raw materials are replaced with non-GM raw materials, the effect of cost increase will be concentrated on the food products with a high GM raw materials input ratio.

Мaize hybrids for grain and silage in agro-ecological conditions of the Republic of Srpska

Maize is used in human and animal nutrition, in industrial processing (nutritional products, pharmaceutical industry, alcohol industry, chemical industry, textile industry). Economical significance of maize is derived from its yield, namely its total production of grain maize, as well as silage. Today, together with potatoes and sugar cane, maize is used for production of bioethanol, a very important source of renewable energy. Maize is grown worldwide on surfaces of 192,05 million ha, on which around 1,108 billion tonnes of grain is produced. The largest producers of genetically modified corn in the world are USA, Brasil, Argentina, while in the EU GM corn is grown in Spain and Portugal. Maize is the most important field crop in the Republic of Srpska and is grown on 46.7 % of sown areas. In a ten-year period (2008-2017) the least growing area on which the maize was grown were in 2012 (120,901 ha), and the largest in 2008 (148,539 ha). The limiting factor in achieving high yield are meteoroidal conditions (high temperatures, draught or excessive rainfall) because of which average yield variation is from 2.7 to 5.3 t ha-1 . The biggest cereals and maize production in Republic of Srpska, the one of 1,657,556 tonnes, was achieved in 2016 which, compared to 2015 was an increase of 46%, or 520,000 tonnes, and was affected by a record breaking maize production of 1.178.423 tonnes. In organic corn production the sweet and popcorn are the most bred. The improvement in agricultural production mostly depends on perfecting the existing and developing the new and appropriate technical solutions. The accent is increased on protection of the environment, production of healthy and quality food and decrease in production expenses, and all of this can be achieved by applying the conservation treatment of soil. Growing corn in complete and regular crop rows, especially in which there are legume plants, can significantly affect the decrease in weediness and increase in grain yield. The corn is often grown in combined sowing with other plants, most often with soy, beans and fodder pumpkin. Maize breeding in past period created many hybrids, which enabled a permanent yield increase. The methods of conventional breeding are efficient but slow in creating a germplasm tolerant on existing range of climate conditions and are not suitable for rapid improvement of multiple stress tolerance. Molecular breeding enables increase in speed and efficiency of breeding. The only institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina which deals with breeding and creating new species and hybrids of grown plants, adapted to local agroecological conditions is the PI Agricultural Institute, Banja Luka. So far, the Institute created nine maize hybrids, the most significant being BL 43.

Update on long-term toxicity of agricultural GMOs tolerant to roundup

Agricultural genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants obtained by gene transfer or more recently by gene-editing. Their major common phenotypic trait for which 99% have been modified is that these are designed to be grown with pesticides, which may bioaccumulate in the plants and/or the consumer, and/or express insecticides in their cells. Examples of both types are Roundup-tolerant soy and corn and Bt insecticidal plants. Recently, Steinberg et al. concluded that there were no adverse effects in rats from consumption of a GM corn tolerant to Roundup, called NK603, and that no other long-term studies are justified. This contradicts several of our in vivo studies on the short- and long-term toxicological effects of either the same GMO, other GMOs, or the pesticide Roundup itself. Our results were attributed in particular to the long-term in vivo effects of Roundup residues, which also present toxic and endocrine-disrupting effects in vitro. These effects were clearly linked to the formulants of the pesticide, such as petroleum residues and heavy metals, and not to glyphosate alone. In fact, the treated rats in Steinberg et al.’s experiment showed many adverse effects, some of which, including increased mortality in males fed GM corn + Roundup, were statistically significant. Other adverse effects affected both treated and control groups. The latter trend may be due to contamination of the feed of the control animals by many carcinogenic pollutants, including pesticides, but also by Roundup residues and Roundup-tolerant GMOs. For instance, glyphosate contained in Roundup was found to be 300–1400 times more elevated in their control feed than in our treated group. In conclusion, Steinberg et al.’s study is invalidated by the contaminated feed, biased interpretations, and major undeclared conflicts of interest.

Effect of prepartum dietary energy source on goat maternal metabolic profile, neonatal performance, and economic profitability.

Objective:This work aimed at studying dietary energy supplementation effects during late pregnancy upon the metabolic status of does, as well as on the birth weight (BW), body temperature, and metabolic profile for their kids and the net economic profit.Materials and Methods:Eighty pregnant does (Egyptian Nubian) were equally split into four dietary treatments; the control (CON) receiving basal diet, the basal diet with 200 gm corn starch and 100 gm of molasses /h/d added (MS), the basal diet with 300 gm/h/d of corn grains added (CG), and the basal diet with 300 gm/h/d of barley grains added (BG).Results:Body weight and temperature of kids were significantly higher in MS and BG groups, respectively. The serum concentration of albumin (Alb), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels are significantly decreased. At the same time, urea and vitamin A increased dramatically in the BG group before giving birth. After birth, conversely, the serum concentration of albumin, AST, ALT, cholesterol, and vitamin A significantly increased with energy supplementation. Kids in the BG group show the most high level of albumin. Furthermore, all supplemented groups increased dramatically in vitamin A. The economic efficiency of the MS group, followed by the BG group, was significantly higher compared to the other treatments.Conclusion:It is beneficial for Egyptian farmers to feed extra concentrate (especially barley) to the does during late gestation stages to produce healthy kids with optimal BW and body temperature, as well as to avoid metabolic disorders that may affect the does at this critical stage. Finally, it can be said that this dietary supplementation may also increases the profit margins of the farmers.

Hemato-biochemical status of laboratory mice with a GM corn based diet

GM analogues have about 30 plant species, and main share from GM crops belong to soybean and corn. According to the literature data, the introduction of GM fodder in the diet of laboratory mice and rats was accompanied by negative consequences for the health of experimental animals and their offspring. Corn is a component of animal feed and popular product among people, especially sweet canned corn. The lack of experimental data regarding effects of canned sweet GM corn on an organism was the drive behind our research subject. The objective of the research was a comparative analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters of laboratory mice with a conserved GM corn based diet and without it. Clinical blood analysis indicated the development of hyperchromic anemia, leukocytosis due to an increase in the fraction of medium blood cells and thrombocytosis in experimental group mice. Biochemical studies of these mice blood revealed signs of renal and liver pathology, myocardial damage and hyperproteinemia. A comparative analysis of the hemato-biochemical status of laboratory mice indicated the development of signs of anemia, intoxication and allergy in the group of mice with a conserved GM corn based diet as compared to intact mice of the control groups.

Nurturing natural capital

Nurturing natural capital

The significance of protecting domestic native corn from genetically modified seeds: a perspective from local Mexican NGOs

During the last decades, there has been an ongoing global discussion about the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and their insertion in geographic regions where there is a vast pool of native landraces such as Mexican corn, Indian rice, Peruvian potato. This discussion takes place between those who defend native landraces along with traditional farming knowledge (TK) and those who defend genetic engineering products (GMO), turning the discussion into a running social confrontation between large corporations and domestic NGO’s network. Both sides are accompanied by leading scientific communities. Based on the Political Economy perspective of K. Polanyi and his analytical categories, this paper examines the case of the Mexican GMO controversy between predominantly US agroindustry and Mexican NGOs. It shows the performance of NGO’s in trying to avoid the insertion of GM corn in Mexico through a legal injunction that is banning the commercialization of this GM corn in the whole territory.

Determination of genetically modified corn and soy in processed food products

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their raw materials used in processed foods should be analyzed and labelled. The aim of our study was to evaluate the present situation of the food products and to determine appropriate DNA isolation method in processed food products. Keeping in view, there is a need to determine different DNA extraction protocols specific to processed foods and these protocols should be modified and must be applied to test GMOs. In this study, six different DNA extraction protocols and two DNA kits were used for soybean or corn based 12 kinds of products with total of 27 processed food products including biscuit, cornflakes, cracker, corn chips, corn starch, corn flour, popcorn, sweet corn, baby food, cake, compressed popcorn, soy flour along with positive controls (GM soy and GM corn). Obtained results showed that DNA quantity and quality varied with type of food and processing. Investigation of genetically modified organisms in these products was determined by qualitative PCR analysis. Molecular screening of these food products were carried out by using 35S promoter and nos or tnos terminator sequences. As a result, some of the products containing corn/soy based raw material were found to be genetically modified.

日本における隔離ほ場試験による遺伝子組換えトウモロコシの生物多様性影響評価の実例

日本における隔離ほ場試験による遺伝子組換えトウモロコシの生物多様性影響評価の実例

BIOBOARD

JAPAN – Waseda University team sheds light on self-organization of biological structures. SINGAPORE – Unravelling the mind-body connection with power-efficient IC chip jointly developed by A*STAR IME, NTU and NUS. SINGAPORE – A*STAR scientists bring to light mechanism of drug for infections. SINGAPORE – A*STAR scientists uncover potential drug target to nip cancer in the bud. THAILAND – Leaders in fight against typhoid express hope in light of new vaccines. THE PHILIPPINES – GM corn ‘benefits poor more than richer farmers’. THE PHILIPPINES – Speeding up photosynthesis for better rice yields. AFRICA – End of line for hard-to-detect malaria? AUSTRALIA – Drugs to be developed against genetic and degenerative disorders. AUSTRALIA – A new way to find out if back problems need surgery. AUSTRALIA – Researchers solve a mystery about type 2 diabetes drug. EUROPE – Scientists start to tap marine microbes for biotech use. US – MR spectroscopy shows differences in brains of preterm infants. US – New device offers hope to people blinded due to incurable eye disorders. US – New Parkinson's disease genes discovered. US – Taste receptors in the gut identified as new target for satiety and glucose regulation. US – ACC inhibitors for potential treatment of diabetes, NASH and liver cancer discovered. US – Benign tumors from use of oral contraceptive have a greater chance of becoming malignant.

Understanding attitudes towards the use of animals in research using an online public engagement tool

Using an online public engagement experiment, we probed the views of 617 participants on the use of pigs as research animals (to reduce agricultural pollution or to improve organ transplant success in humans) with and without genetic modification and using different numbers of pigs. In both scenarios and across demographics, level of opposition increased when the research required the use of GM corn or GM pigs. Animal numbers had little effect. A total of 1037 comments were analyzed to understand decisions. Participants were most concerned about the impact of the research on animal welfare. Genetic modification was viewed as an intervention in nature and there was worry about unpredictable consequences. Both opponents and supporters sought assurances that concerns were addressed. Governing bodies for animal research should make efforts to document and mitigate consequences of GM and other procedures, and increase efforts to maintain a dialogue with the public around acceptability of these procedures.

Asian corn borer (ACB) and non‐ACB pests in GM corn (Zea mays L.) in the Philippines

The Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée), has become the most damaging pest in corn in south-east Asia. Corn farmers in the Philippines have incurred great yield losses in the past decades because of ACB infestation. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Bt herbicide-tolerant (BtHT) corns have been developed to reduce borer attacks worldwide. This study assessed the extent of ACB and non-ACB pest infestations in both GM and non-GM corn in Isabela Province, the Philippines. Specific aims were to reinvestigate the efficacy of Bt corn in controlling ACB, to evaluate what parts of Bt corn plants are susceptible to ACB, to monitor the potential development of ACB resistance and to evaluate whether secondary pests dominate in an ACB-free Bt corn environment. The study involved preparatory interviews with farmers, site selection, field scouting and visual inspection of 200 plants along 200 m transect lines through 198 cornfields. Bt corn can efficiently reduce the ACB pest problem and reduce borer damage by 44%, to damage levels in Bt and BtHT corn of 6.8 and 7% respectively. The leaves of Bt corn were more susceptible, while cobs of Bt corn were less affected by ACB. Non-ACB pests were common in Bt toxin-free cornfields and reduced in non-GM cornfields where ACB was abundant. No secondary pest outbreaks were found in ACB-free Bt cornfields. Bt and BtHT corn hybrids containing the Cry1Ab protein performed well in Isabela Province. Reduced cob damage by ACB on Bt fields could mean smaller economic losses even with ACB infestation. The occurrence of ACB in Bt and BtHT cornfields, although at a moderate and insignificant level, could imply the potential development of resistance to Bt toxin.

An Analysis of Selectivity in the Productivity Evaluation of Biotechnology: An Application to Corn

We investigate selectivity bias in the evaluation of biotech hybrid productivity. The analysis is applied to experimental data on Wisconsin corn yields from 1990 to 2010. Relying on a Heckman‐like factor that accounts for selectivity, we find evidence of selection bias, indicating that some of the observed yield advantage associated with GM hybrids can be attributed to their conventional genes. We document how the rising market concentration of biotech firms has contributed to increasing selectivity bias in corn yield. The impact, however, is offset by the negative effect of the rising adoption rate of GM corn on selectivity bias.

Around the World

In science news around the world this week, France and the E.U. will review a controversial study of GM corn, the U.S. House of Representatives won't make it easier for foreign-born students earning advanced science and engineering degrees from U.S. universities to remain after graduation, climate scientist Michael Mann won an initial victory in his latest legal battle, a spat between China and Japan over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea is once again denting scientific cooperation, and public health experts are on edge about a new coronavirus.

Early adoption, experience, and farm performance of GM corn seeds

AbstractThe current article explores the characteristics that distinguish early from late adopters of GM corn and measures the productivity impacts of early adoption, for a sample of farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The results of the adoption analysis confirm that size, education as well as specialization are positively correlated with early adoption. In addition, these results also show that farms that are mostly worked by family labor but hire some off‐farm labor are more likely to adopt GM seeds earlier in the diffusion process. The productivity analysis demonstrates the superiority of stacked varieties. At the same time, we find no evidence of a direct impact of experience on yields. Given the previously documented impact of early adoption on the use of stacked varieties, we conclude that experience plays a role through the adoption of these new technologies but does not play a role in allowing the producer to use the technology more efficiently, once it has been adopted.

The Indian Bt Brinjal Controversy: Genetically Modified Food, Legal & Regulatory Framework

Bacillus thuringiensis Brinjal, popularly known as Bt brinjal, was at the centre of a major controversy in India recently. Bt brinjal, a genetically modified strain created by India's number one seeds company Mahyco in collaboration with American multinational Monsanto, claims to improve yields and help the agriculture sector. However, the debate over the safety of Bt brinjal continues with mixed views from scientists working for the government, farmers and environment activists. It is also said that Bt Brinjal will harm the environment along with other unforeseen effects including safety of the consumers. The paper focuses on a complete overview of Bt Brinjal and the environmental effects of genetically modified crops in light of the Bt Brinjal controversy. There is evidence that GM crops pose legal and economic risks. It could, for example, result in many, many farmers growing the same crop, which could result in vast amounts of food being lost to one overlooked disease or natural disaster. Also, huge bioengineering companies like Monsanto are suing small farmers because they were supposedly using GM corn that was resistant to the herbicide Roundup without a license from Monsanto. The result is a huge legal mess. Clearly GM crops have a lot of problems and kinks that need to be sorted out. Countries may promote GM crops or ban them. There are reasons justifying each action. This paper focuses on the GM food legal and regulatory framework and the developments on the issue in India.