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Why was the FLAVR SAVR tomato engineered for a longer shelf life?
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genetic engineering
The generation of vaccines relies heavily on techniques in genetic engineering.
The FLAVR SAVR tomato was engineered to increase its firmness, which allowed it to resist potential damage during shipping, and to extend its shelf life. By modifying the fruit in this way, developers aimed to improve the durability of the product as it moved through the supply chain.1
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1994 as the first genetically modified food for public consumption, the product was ultimately discontinued by the end of the decade due to factors including high production costs, supply chain challenges, and public skepticism.1