| Beneficial
product traits |
...
in these crops |
Bt
crops
are protected against insect damage and reduce pesticide use. Plants
produce a protein -- toxic only to certain insects -- found in a common
soil bacterium called Bacillus
thuringiensis, or Bt.
|
corn,
cotton, potatoes
Future:
sunflower, soybeans, canola, wheat, tomatoes
|
Herbicide
tolerant crops
allow farmers to apply a specific herbicide to control weeds without
harm to the crop. Gives farmers greater flexibility in pest management
and promotes conservation tillage.
|
soybeans,
cotton, corn, canola, rice
Future:
wheat, sugar beet
|
Disease-resistant
crops
are armed against destructive viral plant diseases with the plant
equivalent of a vaccine.
|
sweet
potatoes, cassava, rice, corn, squash, papaya
Future:
tomatoes, bananas
|
High-performance
cooking oils
maintain texture at high temperatures, reduce need for processing and
create healthier food products. The oils are either high oleic or low
linolenic. In the future, high stearate.
|
sunflower,
peanuts and soybeans
|
Healthier
cooking oils
have reduced saturated fat.
|
soybeans
|
| Delayed-ripening
fruits and vegetables
have superior flavor, color and texture, are firmer for shipping and
stay fresh longer.
|
tomatoes
Future:
raspberries, strawberries, cherries tomatoes, bananas, pineapples
|
Increased-solids
tomatoes
have superior taste and texture for processed tomato pastes and sauces.
|
Tomatoes
|
RBST
is a recombinant form of a natural hormone, bovine somatotropin, which
causes cows to produce milk. rBST increases milk production by as much
as 10-15 percent. It is used to treat over 30 percent of U.S. cows.
|
RBST
(milk production)
|
Food
enzymes,
including a purer, more stable form of chymosin used to curdle milk in
cheese production. Its used to make 60 percent of hard cheeses.
Replaces chymosin of rennet from slaughtered calves stomachs.
|
Chymosin
(in cheese)
the
first biotechnology
product in food
|
Nutritionally
enhanced foods
will offer increased levels of nutrients, vitamins and other healthful
phytochemicals. Benefits range from helping developing nations meet
basic dietary requirements to boosting disease-fighting and
health-promoting foods.
|
Future:
protein-enhanced sweet potatoes and rice; high-vitamin-A canola oil;
increased antioxidant fruits and vegetables.
|
