The title of this article is the U.S. Companies Announce Plans for Gene-Edited Strawberries. The article explains two companies — Plant Sciences Inc. and J.R. Simplot Company — that want to launch gene-edited strawberries for the first time. An organization that produces genetically modified potatoes has agreed to assist companies in growing strawberries. These strawberries will stay fresh for a longer time and have a longer growing season. The author of this article is Keith Ridler; he is from the associated press and mainly covers breaking news and other news about the environment.
The article explains that growers in the U.S. will produce more than $2.15 billion in strawberries in 2020. According to Keith, one of the problems that farmers encountered, especially in 2020, is that a large percentage of the strawberries produced got spoiled. Therefore, producing genetically modified strawberries will lower such wastes and make the products available to many consumers throughout the year.
Keith further explains that the technology used in the production of potatoes is the same going to be used to produce strawberries. The article records that, currently, there is no proof of whether gene-edited organisms are harmful for human consumption. However, altering the genetic codes of certain foods presents ethical issues. For instance, genetically-modified potatoes have been passed as safe to eat by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For instance, more than 450,000 million kilograms have been sold in 40 states, 4,000 supermarkets; 9,000 restaurants across the country. Keith explains that Cole, the company CEO, has already submitted information to the agricultural department that considers gene modification as a natural process. Hence, there is no need to get regulatory approval before selling products to the market.
The author outlines five types of strawberries that have been developed and perform the best in different climates. The genetic system of these strawberries is complex and adds to their long circle of breeding. Therefore, one needs to look at large populations of seedlings annually to progress with the breeding of traditional plants. Through gene editing, these processes will be done faster because the main goal is to increase their lifespan and enhance their resistance to diseases.
According to Keith Ridler, farmers who will set aside $70,000 for planting and harvesting gene-edited strawberries are likely to lower the risk of crop failure. Simplot is the first agricultural company to be licensed to perform gene modification. These enable scientists to make alterations to the genetic structure of living organisms and have a broad application for enhancing the production of quality plant products.
This article by Keith is relevant to the materials learned in class in that it explains how genes in strawberries have been modified to produce better strawberries that can survive in severe environments and stay for a longer time without getting spoiled. This is relevant to the topic in class about genes, where scientists look forward to modifying the genes of pigs to create organs that can be used as transplants for human beings.
Reading this article has helped me understand that genetic engineering is vital in agriculture. This is because it increases crop production, lowers the cost of food and drug production, and reduces the need for pesticides. In addition, there is improved quality of food and nutrients composition, resistance to diseases and pests, increased food security, and medical advantages to the increasing number of people across the globe. Advancements have been made in creating crops that mature faster; able to survive in harsh conditions such as drought, salt, and frost, as well as other stressors in the environment. This allows them to survive in areas where they would not have flourished.
Works Cited
Ridler, Keith. U.S. Companies Announce Plans for Gene-Edited Strawberries. (2021). Web.