Modern biotechnology means the transfer of genetic materials from one specie to the same specie or to another specie for purposes of modifying the characteristics of that specie.

Modern biotechnology is also known as “genetic engineering”, “genetic modification”, “gene technology” or “gene splicing”.

GMOs are organisms, plants or animals, which have been modified by inserting a gene from other organisms through modern biotechnology.

Genetically modified foods mean foods that have been produced from or derived from or composed of organisms (include plants, animals and microorganisms) that have been genetically modified.

Traditional methods to modify food plants have limitations:

• Cross breeding can only occur in the same or nearly related species.

• Traditional breeding takes a long time.

With new techniques of biotechnology:

• Time can be reduced by several years.

• Allows the transfer of genes in a very controlled way.

• Can help to increase crop production, lower farming costs, improve food quality and safety and enhance the sustainability of the environment.

Biotechnology will bring environmental and agricultural benefits such as:

• Increase yields

• Improve the quality of seed grains

• Increase levels of nutrients in certain crops

• Reduces use of pesticides

• Energy savings

• Reduce soil erosion

• Increase tolerance of crops

to:

• Drought and flood

• Salt and metals

• Heat and cold

Currently, the only known health risks from GMFs are the possibility of food allergies. However, there is no scientific evidence that GMFs are health risk.

Safety has to be considered on a case-by-case basis.

At the moment, in Malaysia, only Monsanto’s ready Roundup soybean has been approved.

In the absence of labeling, it isn’t easy to differentiate between GMFs and conventional foods. But through analysis, we can detect GMFs by analyzing its DNA or protein.