Soybeans, genetically modified production

The food technologist may be especially interested in the fate of the carotenoids in the seed oil. Like red palm oil, the resulting carotenoid-pigmented canola oil may be more stable due to the antioxidant properties of carotenoids and may be more attractive to consumers. Alternatively, for food security concerns, transgenic soybean or canola oils and seed meals that are genetically modified for more efficient bio-diesel production may be bio-safety marked with lipid-soluble carotenoids and water-soluble anthocyanins, respectively. Potatoes are excellent potential sources of dietary carotenoids, and over-expression of CrtB in tubers led to the accumulation of P-carotene. Potatoes normally have low levels of leaf-type carotenoids, like canola cotyledons. 

As a consumer, you are continually being exposed to new products. Some of these products can be controversial. For example, foods such as tomatoes and soybeans are genetically modified organisms (GMOs). As a citizen of the world, it is your responsibility to become informed. You should know what is in the products you use. You should understand how to use them appropriately and safely, and how to dispose of them in a responsible manner. 

The advantage for the farmer is that he needs only one product, instead of several different selective (and more expensive) herbicides. Roundup ready soybeans were launched in 1996 and today 50 percent of the soybean crop in the United States is derived from roundup ready seeds. Other glyphosate-resistant transgenic crops introduced by Monsanto are maize and oil seed rape. Competing companies also developed herbicide-resistant plants or plants genetically modified to be protected against certain pests, but none has achieved a commercial breakthrough, mainly because of political reasons. 

Possibly, the largest triumph of biotechnology is in the introduction of transgenic crops, an advance that has revolutionized crop production. The first commercial introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMO) occurred in 1996. By 2000, transgenic soybeans, corn, and cotton accounted for more than half the area planted to these crops (Bruening, 2000). 

Soybeans are the number one oilseed crop world-wide. In 2005, a total of 210 mio metric tonnes of soybean were produced. Relatively few countries produce soybeans the USA accounts for more than 40% of the world production, with Brazil, Argentina and China together accounting for an additional 55%. In Europe, Italy, Russia and the Ukraine are the main producer countries. In the USA, Brazil and Argentina, the most widely planted soybeans are genetically modified varieties (GMO), which are tolerant against the herbicide glyphosate. 

Genetically modified seeds are used in the agricultural industry for the production of cereal crops, such as soybeans and canola. 

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