Agricultural Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues

Becker, Geoffrey S.

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service.

关键词: Agriculture;    Nutrition policy;    Agricultural biotechnology;    Agriculture in foreign trade;    Food;   

RP-ID  :  RL32809
RP-ID  :  RL32809 2005-03-07

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

Since the first genetically engineered (GE) crops (also called GM [genetically modified] crops, or GMOs, genetically modified organisms) became commercially available in the mid-1990s, U.S. soybean, cotton, and corn farmers have rapidly adopted them. As adoption has spread, there have been policy debates over the costsand benefits of GE products. Issues include the impacts of GE crops on the environment and food safety, and whether GE foods should be specially labeled. Congress generally has been supportive of GE agricultural products, although some Members have expressed wariness about their adoption and regulation. The 109th Congress will likely continue to follow trade developments, particularly theU.S.-EU dispute, as well as U.S. regulatory mechanisms for approving biotech foods.