Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have been available in the market since the 1990s. GMOs are plants, animals, or microorganisms that have had their genetic material changed through genetic engineering, involving the transfer of specific DNA from one organism to another. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) work together to ensure GMO crops are safe for humans, animals, and the environment. To increase consumer understanding of GMOs, Congress funded the Agricultural Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative, which led to the launch of the “Feed Your Mind” education initiative in 2020. This initiative provides science-based educational resources for consumers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and health educators to educate them about agricultural biotechnology and GMOs. The resources include web content, fact sheets, infographics, and videos that answer common questions about GMOs, such as what makes it a GMO, its benefits, and potential health effects. The EPA also regulates biotechnology for use in pest management, and the Unified Website for Biotechnology Regulation provides information on GMO regulation across the federal government.
Genetic engineering and its potential for biotechnology innovation Note: This reworded version is focused on the technological aspect of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), highlighting the potential benefits and applications in biotechnology, rather than the original phrase, which solely identified the term Genetically Modified Organisms.
