genetically modified food

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Rows of genetically modified barley plants grow in an outdoor test plot in Germany, with a yellow marker labeled 3 and protective netting overhead.

Dense rows of tall green corn plants in a genetically modified corn field, with tassels visible at the top against a pale sky.

genetically modified food

agriculture

Also known as: GM food, genetically engineered food, genetically modified crop(Show More)

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July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Genetically modified (GM) foods are derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This process, also known as genetic modification, involves identifying specific genes for desired traits, such as pest resistance or improved nutrition, and inserting them into the DNA of a target plant.1

GM foods are generally considered safe for consumption, with scientific consensus indicating they pose no greater risk than conventionally bred foods. Regulatory bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) assess GM foods for safety and nutritional content. Some GM crops are developed to enhance human health, like rice fortified with iron and zinc to combat deficiencies.23

Environmentally, GM crops can offer benefits such as reduced pesticide use and less water waste. However, concerns exist regarding potential impacts on biodiversity and the possibility of engineered genes transferring to wild populations.43

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agricultural sciences
Emerging agricultural sciences
Genetically modified (GM) foods were first approved for human consumption in the United States in 1994, and by 2014–15 about 90 percent of the corn, cotton, and soybeans planted in the United States was GM. The genetic engineering of crops can dramatically increase per-area crop…
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Genetically modified (GM) foods were first approved for human consumption in the United States in 1994, and by 2014–15 about 90 percent of the corn, cotton, and soybeans planted in the United States was GM. The genetic engineering of crops can dramatically increase per-area crop…
Read More

Do GM Foods Affect the Body Differently?
foods affect the body in the same way as non-GM foods. In fact, multiple studies comparing the safety of GM and non-GM foods have found no difference in how these foods affect the body. For example, GM foods are not more likely to cause allergic…
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foods affect the body in the same way as non-GM foods. In fact, multiple studies comparing the safety of GM and non-GM foods have found no difference in how these foods affect the body. For example, GM foods are not more likely to cause allergic…
Read More

genetically modified organism
GMOs in agriculture
Genetically modified (GM) foods were first approved for human consumption in the United States in 1994, and by 2014–15 about 90 percent of the corn, cotton, and soybeans planted in the United States were GM. By the end of 2014, GM crops covered nearly 1.8…
Read More
Genetically modified (GM) foods were first approved for human consumption in the United States in 1994, and by 2014–15 about 90 percent of the corn, cotton, and soybeans planted in the United States were GM. By the end of 2014, GM crops covered nearly 1.8…
Read More

Monsanto
1946–2000: Industrial growth and diversification
…the development and production of genetically modified crop seeds. It began commercial production of bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that boosts milk production in dairy cows, in 1994.
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…the development and production of genetically modified crop seeds. It began commercial production of bovine somatotropin (BST), a growth hormone that boosts milk production in dairy cows, in 1994.
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philosophy of biology
Social and ethical issues
The introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods, chiefly plants, in the 1990s provoked a violent and complex debate involving agricultural and pharmaceutical corporations; scientists; environmental, consumer, and public-health organizations; and representatives of indigenous and farming communities in the developing world. Proponents, largely in the United States (where GM…
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The introduction of genetically modified (GM) foods, chiefly plants, in the 1990s provoked a violent and complex debate involving agricultural and pharmaceutical corporations; scientists; environmental, consumer, and public-health organizations; and representatives of indigenous and farming communities in the developing world. Proponents, largely in the United States (where GM…
Read More

plant disease
The use of genetic engineering in developing disease-resistant plants
…hectares) worldwide were planted with genetically modified (GM) crops. Among the most successful GM crops are corn (maize), soybeans, and cotton, all of which have proved valuable to farmers with respect to producing increased yields and having economic advantages.
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…hectares) worldwide were planted with genetically modified (GM) crops. Among the most successful GM crops are corn (maize), soybeans, and cotton, all of which have proved valuable to farmers with respect to producing increased yields and having economic advantages.
Read More

soybean
Physical description and cultivation
…majority of soybean crops are genetically modified for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The soybean may be cultivated in most types of soil, but it thrives in warm, fertile, well-drained, sandy loam. The crop is planted after all danger of frost is past. Soybeans are usually harvested mechanically, after the…
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…majority of soybean crops are genetically modified for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The soybean may be cultivated in most types of soil, but it thrives in warm, fertile, well-drained, sandy loam. The crop is planted after all danger of frost is past. Soybeans are usually harvested mechanically, after the…
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monarch butterfly
Threats
…use of genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops in the United States, has further placed the monarch’s long-term survival in jeopardy. Finally, anthropogenic climate change has significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and is expected to continue to pose an existential threat. Recurring drought in parts of western North America, exacerbated by…
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…use of genetically modified herbicide-resistant crops in the United States, has further placed the monarch’s long-term survival in jeopardy. Finally, anthropogenic climate change has significantly impacted the migratory monarch butterfly and is expected to continue to pose an existential threat. Recurring drought in parts of western North America, exacerbated by…
Read More