{"id":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issue/agricultural-biotechnology","schemaVersion":2,"name":"Agricultural Biotechnology","category":"Food","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issue/agricultural-biotechnology","json":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issue/agricultural-biotechnology.json","ask":"","position":"Over the course of the 20th century, agriculture went through a mechanical and chemical revolution. Tractors replaced horses, mules, and oxen. Fertilizer replaced manure. Pesticides and herbicides reduced labor needs. Yields skyrocketed. But, in developed economies with years of access to these technologies, productivity growth is slowing. Gene editing and other genetic engineering approaches can jumpstart growth, improving farmer incomes, and helping grow more food on less land, and reducing environmental impacts. However, scaling agricultural biotechnologies to the enormous diversity of crops and farms will require an overhaul of burdensome regulatory review and permitting processes.","faq":[{"question":"Are GMOs bad for you?","answer":"No. Decades of research have found no evidence that approved genetically modified foods are inherently less safe to eat than conventionally bred foods. Genetic engineering is a tool, not a health risk in itself. GMO crops can also improve yields, nutrition, and resilience while reducing some environmental impacts of agriculture."},{"question":"Is gene-edited food safe to eat?","answer":"Scientific reviews find no evidence that gene-edited foods are inherently riskier than conventionally bred foods. Gene editing makes targeted DNA changes, some of which can occur naturally. Safety assessments consider the resulting food’s nutritional composition, potential toxicity, allergenicity, and unintended effects."},{"question":"Why are GMOs controversial?","answer":"GMOs became controversial amid concerns about food safety, environmental impacts, corporate control of agriculture, and the ethics of altering genes. Opposition has also been shaped by organic and natural-food movements that favor less technological intervention in food production."},{"question":"What foods are genetically modified?","answer":"Many people regularly eat GMO-derived ingredients without realizing it because corn, soy, canola, and sugar beet ingredients are common in processed foods. Genetic engineering is already a routine part of the American food system."}],"experts":[{"name":"Emma Kovak","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/people/emma-kovak"},{"name":"Emily Bass","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/people/emily-bass"},{"name":"Dan Blaustein-Rejto","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/people/dan-blaustein-rejto"}],"startHere":[{"title":"Foregone Benefits of Gene Editing in the European Union","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/foregone-benefits-of-gene-editing-in-the-european-union","date":"2023-10-24"},{"title":"The Environmental Case for Genetically Engineered Crops","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/the-environmental-case-for-genetically-engineered-crops","date":"2022-02-10"},{"title":"USDA Regulations Stifle Innovation","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/usda-regulations-stifle-innovation","date":"2026-03-24"}],"latest":[{"title":"RELEASE: Breakthrough Institute Applauds USDA Approval of Genetically Engineered Disease-Resistant American Chestnut Tree","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-breakthrough-institute-applauds-usda-approval-of-genetically-engineered-disease-resistant-american-chestnut-tree","date":"2026-08-28","type":"Statement"},{"title":"Bioengineering the Ultimate Honeypot","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/bioengineering-the-ultimate-honeypot","date":"2026-08-10","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"Global Shifts in Plant Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/global-shifts-in-plant-biotech-regulations","date":"2026-07-21","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"USDA Is Exploring an Overhaul of its Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/usda-is-exploring-an-overhaul-of-its-biotech-regulations","date":"2026-07-20","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"USDA Regulations Stifle Innovation","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/usda-regulations-stifle-innovation","date":"2026-03-24","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"The Microplastics Panic","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/the-microplastics-panic","date":"2026-03-05","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"Congress Punts on the Farm Bill (Again), Let’s Talk About Biotech Instead","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/congress-punts-on-the-farm-bill-again-lets-talk-about-biotech-instead","date":"2026-01-28","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"Some Biotechnology Product Reviews Have Gotten Faster, Despite Changing Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/some-biotechnology-product-reviews-have-gotten-faster-despite-changing-regulations","date":"2026-01-27","type":"Analysis"},{"title":"RELEASE: Letter Advises Trump Administration to Develop Improved Agricultural Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-letter-advises-trump-administration-to-develop-improved-agricultural-biotech-regulations","date":"2025-06-02","type":"Statement"},{"title":"Clearing a Path To Market for Genetically Engineered Microbes","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/clearing-a-path-to-market-for-genetically-engineered-microbes","date":"2024-12-19","type":"Analysis"}],"policyHub":"https://thebreakthrough.org/policy?topics=biotechnology%7Cagricultural-r-d-2%7Cconservation-2%7Cfarm-bill-2","policyAreas":[{"slug":"biotechnology","name":"Biotechnology","records":14,"url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/policy?topics=biotechnology"},{"slug":"agricultural-r-d-2","name":"Agricultural R&D","records":1,"url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/policy?topics=agricultural-r-d-2"},{"slug":"conservation-2","name":"Conservation","records":1,"url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/policy?topics=conservation-2"},{"slug":"farm-bill-2","name":"Farm Bill","records":1,"url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/policy?topics=farm-bill-2"}],"policyRecords":[{"id":267848,"title":"RELEASE: Breakthrough Institute Applauds USDA Approval of Genetically Engineered Disease-Resistant American Chestnut Tree","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-breakthrough-institute-applauds-usda-approval-of-genetically-engineered-disease-resistant-american-chestnut-tree","type":"Statement","date":"2026-08-28","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Dan Blaustein-Rejto"},{"id":267474,"title":"Global Shifts in Plant Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/global-shifts-in-plant-biotech-regulations","type":"Analysis","date":"2026-07-21","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emily Bass"},{"id":267457,"title":"USDA Is Exploring an Overhaul of its Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/usda-is-exploring-an-overhaul-of-its-biotech-regulations","type":"Analysis","date":"2026-07-20","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Dan Blaustein-Rejto; Emily Bass"},{"id":264938,"title":"USDA Regulations Stifle Innovation","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/usda-regulations-stifle-innovation","type":"Analysis","date":"2026-03-24","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":263752,"title":"Congress Punts on the Farm Bill (Again), Let’s Talk About Biotech Instead","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/congress-punts-on-the-farm-bill-again-lets-talk-about-biotech-instead","type":"Analysis","date":"2026-01-28","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak; Emily Bass"},{"id":263652,"title":"Some Biotechnology Product Reviews Have Gotten Faster, Despite Changing Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/some-biotechnology-product-reviews-have-gotten-faster-despite-changing-regulations","type":"Analysis","date":"2026-01-27","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":247791,"title":"RELEASE: Letter Advises Trump Administration to Develop Improved Agricultural Biotech Regulations","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-letter-advises-trump-administration-to-develop-improved-agricultural-biotech-regulations","type":"Statement","date":"2025-06-02","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emily Bass; Emma Kovak"},{"id":240266,"title":"Clearing a Path To Market for Genetically Engineered Microbes","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/clearing-a-path-to-market-for-genetically-engineered-microbes","type":"Analysis","date":"2024-12-19","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":213455,"title":"A Tale of Two Trees","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/a-tale-of-two-trees","type":"Analysis","date":"2024-03-21","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":211372,"title":"Can Regulators Keep Up With Biotech Innovation?","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/can-regulators-keep-up-with-biotech-innovation","type":"Analysis","date":"2024-02-20","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak; Emily Bass"},{"id":186142,"title":"Seed Prices Have Soared—Is Intellectual Property the Problem?","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/seed-prices-have-soared-is-intellectual-property-the-problem","type":"Analysis","date":"2023-01-17","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":175314,"title":"Don’t Make Regulation of Gene-Edited Microbes Precautionary","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/issues/food-agriculture-environment/dont-make-regulation-of-gene-edited-microbes-precautionary","type":"Analysis","date":"2022-12-09","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Emma Kovak"},{"id":45401,"title":"RELEASE: New Research Shows Genetically Modified Crops Could Significantly Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/new-research-shows-gmo-could-significantly-reduce-emissions","type":"Statement","date":"2022-02-09","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Sean Trambley"},{"id":24356,"title":"RELEASE: Genetically Engineered Crops Key to Increasing Yields While Decreasing Global CO2 Emissions","url":"https://thebreakthrough.org/press/release-genetically-engineered-crops-key-to-increasing-yields-while-decreasing-global-co2-emissions","type":"Statement","date":"2021-07-20","stance":"none","subject":"","subjectUrl":"","summary":"","authors":"Jamie Livingston"}],"dateModified":"2026-11-12T08:26:15-08:00"}