Genetically Modified Food

Abstract

Genetically modified (GM) food is food produced from genetically modified seeds, or food that contains ingredients made from genetically modified plants, animals or microorganisms. Genetic modification of a food crop involves transfer of gene(s) from an organism belonging to one species of a taxonomic group to the food crop that belongs to a species of another taxonomic group. The source of the genes may be a plant species, animal species or a bacterium. Bt corn is an example of a genetically modified food crop in which a gene from a bacterium called Bacillus thureingensis (Bt) has been inserted. The logic underlying the gene transfer is that the foreign gene(s) inserted into the crop plant has/have some properties, for example, production of a toxin, that equip the plant to fight diseases and pest attacks (biotic stress). Alternatively the foreign gene(s) may have the property of enhancing yield, or improving tolerance against drought, or salinity (abiotic stress).

A Hybrid MCDM Approach for Strategic Project Portfolio Selection of Agro By-Products

“…The final purpose is to assign the importance levels to the indicators to be consequently usable for the decision-making process. In order to verify the appropriateness on the indicators' list and to make sure that the identified indicators are practically applicable, a pilot survey was carried out through semi-structured interviews with six experts (DM 1 , DM 2 DM 3 , DM 4 , DM 5 and DM 6 ) involved in Edible Oil product projects in India. The characteristics required to define an individual as an "expert" are equivocal, according to [90].…”

“…It is widely believed that it is the right of consumers to demand mandatory labeling of GM food products, independent testing for safety and environmental impacts, and liability for any damage associated with GM crops [2,3]. GM foods are produced from GM agro seeds or ingredients resulting from plants' gene that have been handled using the methods of genetic engineering, although this is under debate [4].…”