GMO Timeline – A History of Genetically Modified Foods

Carrots injected
As originally seen on Rosebud Magazine, ©2012, with sources added by GMO-Awareness

GMO foods are such an embedded part of our food system these days, but it’s not difficult to think back to a time when food was simpler and healthier. How did we get to the point that genetically modified organisms infiltrate so much of what we eat? In a recent issue of Rosebud Magazine, GMO expert GL Woolsey took a look at the history of GMOs. We present that for you here now.

1935 – DNA Discovered

Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky isolates pure DNA.

1973 – Recombinant DNA Created

The idea for man-made DNA, or rDNA, comes from a grad student at Stanford University Medical School. Professor Herbert Boyer and a few of his biologist colleagues run with it.

1975 – Asilomar Conference

A group of biologists get together with a few lawyers and doctors to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically engineered DNA. Source

1980 – First GMO Patent Issued

A 1980 court case between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office is settled by a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism. The GMO in question is a bacterium with an appetite for crude oil, ready to gobble up spills. Source

1982 – FDA Approves First GMO

Humulin, insulin produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, appears on the market. Source

1994 – GMO Hits Grocery Stores

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The delayed-ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes. Source

1996 – GMO-Resistant Weeds

Weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide used with many GMO crops, are detected in Australia. Research shows that the super weeds are seven to 11 times more resistant to glyphosate than the standard susceptible population. Source

1997 – Mandatory Labels in Europe

The European Union rules in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed. Source

1999 – GMO Crops Dominate

Over 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically engineered seeds. The marketplace begins embracing GMO technology at an alarming rate. Source

2003 – GMO-Resistant Pests Appear

In 2003, a Bt-toxin-resistant caterpillar-cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, is found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the southern United States. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants. Source

2011 – Bt Toxin Discovered in Humans

Research in eastern Quebec finds Bt toxins in the blood of pregnant women and shows evidence that the toxin is passed to fetuses. Source

2012 – Farmer Wins Court Battle

French farmer Paul Francois sues Monsanto for chemical poisoning he claims was caused by its pesticide Lasso, part of the Roundup Ready line of products. Francois wins and sets a new precedent for future cases. Source

2014 – GMO Patent Expires

Monsanto’s patent on the Roundup Ready line of genetically engineered seeds ends in 2014. However in 2009, Monsanto introduced Roundup 2 with a new patent set to make the first-generation seed obsolete. Source

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48 thoughts on “GMO Timeline – A History of Genetically Modified Foods”

  2. where is the history and origin of monsanto, info about GMO proliferation into the USA and europe, where is the info on how gmos have affected farmers in the US and the EU.????

    Reply ↓

      • There are many negatives and positives in the gmo situation is concerned. I think they are neither good or bad for us. So my question is why use them.

        Reply ↓

          • It kinda depends, GMOs help create more crops, and make the crops themselves take better, you just have to form your own opinion, I would just do some research on both sides before really choosing which one you really want to side with. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to look for the non-GMO label in everything you eat if you’re okay with them. Just another thing to make life easier.

    • nevermind! i have found more in about “GMO RISK”!

      if you want link me scholarly articles against GMOs!

      Reply ↓

    • As cited at the top of this page, the information was reprinted from Rosebud Magazine, and did not include sources for the various statements, however it was easy to locate the sources, so we’ve added them now. Thanks for the nudge!

      Reply ↓

  6. So I am writing a research essay on how to raise awareness about GMO’s in the US, and i’d like to know where your sources are so I can give credit where credit is due. 🙂

    Reply ↓

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  9. So I was wondering why so many scientists are confused about if they are good or bad, its almost like we don’t have enough research to make an educated decision on if they are good or bad. Can you not have such a biased opinion until you have the full story?

    Reply ↓

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  13. You could also add that the patent on glyphosate for an herbicide that Monsanto held expired in 2000 and then they later applied for and received a patent on glyphosate as an antibiotic which Monsanto received for glyphosate in 2010:

    (US7771736 was application to the grant number)

    US patent number US 20040077608 A was granted to Monsanto in 2010 regarding the use of glyphosate. Some questions were posted on the website, GMO Answers (which is a propaganda site run by the biotech industry and Monsanto). Their shills were actually honest in their answers:

    1).”People on the internet are claiming Monsanto patented glyphosate as an antibiotic, is this true?”

    Answered by: By: Chelsey Robinson, Global Preparedness Content Manager, Monsanto Company on Tuesday, 11/25/2014: “Monsanto does have a patent that was issued in 2010 for glyphosate formulations’ antimicrobial activity.
    ————
    2).”Why did Monsanto patent Glyphosate as an antibiotic? ”

    Answered By: Dan Goldstein, Senior Science Fellow and Lead, Medical Sciences and Outreach, Monsanto Company on Tuesday, 11/25/14

    “… glyphosate does inhibit an enzymatic pathway in many bacteria and parasites, and a reasonable case can be made that glyphosate might be effective as an antimicrobial.

    >>>>> “(Technically, an antibiotic is naturally occurring, while antimicrobial covers a broader range of compounds, but most people use the terms interchangeably today).<<<<<

    "Achieve reliably effective concentrations with a reasonable oral (or IV) dose in humans. This is difficult to achieve with glyphosate, especially orally."

    Reply ↓

  15. Are Bt toxins toxic to people? I thought it was only toxic to insects. Also, I thought Bt toxins is produced naturally by many plants? And it has also been included in pesticide sprays for many years. Please clarify your points on Bt toxins, as I was not aware there was any issue with them. Thank you.

    Reply ↓

    • The Bt toxin produced in GMO crops is not the same as natural Bt toxin. The process of genetic engineering changes it (as confirmed by the pro-GMO website GMO Safety). Additionally, there is no testing performed on the Bt toxin extracted from GMO plants (which would be the most effective scientific method), as it is apparently too expensive to isolate. Instead, testing is done on Bt toxin isolated from E. coli bacteria (as is the norm for GM risk assessments). The protein would be different from the one that is present in the actual GMO crop. Hope this helps and isn’t too techy! 🙂

      Reply ↓

      • In my research I found that two gene particles from the soil bacteria Bacillus thurengiensis were combined with corn (probably various with other crops) that incorporated the production of the crys protein that irritates and pierces the gut wall.

        Looking at the summary reports from Canada and Brazil I was not able to extract the full picture but surmised that red cell deaths in the Brazil study in vitro was enough to concern me, and the presence of Bt in umbilical cord blood from the Canadian study added to my concerns.

        I can not imagine other organs, such as heart and lungs would have sufficient barriers to stop the spread of the crys to them. There is concern about the Brazilian study that in fact cell deaths may extend to the bone marrow and include white cells as well as red. More research is needed. I can only for myself err on the side of caution.

        Reply ↓

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  21. As I’ve always said about GMOs, it’s the poison required to grow the crops to which I object. Post-2016 election, we now have no new hope for government scientists to test what Monsanto’s “antibiotic” is doing to the human biome, but just think about it.

    Reply ↓

    • We wish your belief were true! GMOs have not delivered on these promises. Keep digging, keep researching, keep reading… we know everyone needs to find information themselves before it can be believed. 🙂

      Reply ↓

  23. I believe that gmos can be very helpful, gmos can provide plants protection from viruses, various gmo plants require less water as well, so because it requires less water farmed do not have to water plants as often, this means that the farmes use less fuel and are ultimately preserving water.

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  24. It seems the sudden increase in crohns disease coincides with monsantos GMO corn when it was modified with a poison to deteriorate the guts of the cornworm

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