The genetic engineering of seeds is
without doubt the most radical
transformation in food production since the
first days of agriculture, more than 10,000
years ago.
The first genetically modified (GM) crop
was commercialized in the United States in
1994. This ‘Flavr Savr’ tomato, engineered
by the Calgene company, eventually failed
and was removed from the market. But other
GM crops received a warmer welcome, and the
first significant planting of GM crops,
mainly in the US, took place in 1996. The
global area planted with GM crops grew at a
rapid rate, particularly between 1996 and
1999, but remained primarily concentrated
in just three countries: the US, Argentina
and Canada.
