THE BIG FOUR

"The Big Four" is a list of the top genetically modified crops on the market. "The Big Four" crops consist of: soybean, maize, rapeseed, and cotton. While these crops are the most common, there are several other GM crops that are also grown widely. (5.1)

Soybeans

Otherwise known as corn, GM maize was grown for the first time in Canada and the United States in 1997.
Since then, the production of GM maize has expanded to more than 35 million hectares wordwide.
About 80% of the maize produced the United States is genetically modfied.
Maize is the only GM crop that is grown commercially in Europe, and it is also grown in many countries in North America, South America, Asia, and Africa.
Most maize grown today is used as animal feed.
To produce animal feed from maize, rather than harvesting only the ears, farmers harvest the entire plant.
Only a few foods are made from maize. These foods include: corn flakes, corn oil, popcorn, canned sweet corn, and corn on the cob.
Along with wheat and potatoes, maize is an important source of starch for countries worldwide.
Maize is also used as a raw material in the production of numerous food additives such as corn syrup and sugar subsitutes.

Maize

(5.3) (5.8) (5.9)

(5.2) (5.6) (5.7)

The first GM soybeans were planted in the United States in 1996.
More than 10 years later, the GM soybean crops were planted in 9 countries, covering over 60 million hectares.
The world’s leading soybean producers are the United States (33%), Brazil (27%), Argentina (21%), and China (7%). India and Paraguay are also noteworthy soybean producers.
In 2007, over half of the world's soybean crop (58.6%) was genetically modified.
In the United States and Argentina, GM soybeans are approved without restrictions. These soybeans are treated exactly like the conventional soybeans; therefore 85% of the soybeans produced in the United States are genetically modified. Likewise, in Argentina, an overwhelming majority of soybeans (98%) have been genetically modified.
Commercial plantings of GM soybeans can also be found in Uraguay, Paraguay, Canada, and South Africa.
Much of Europe's livestock feed is dependent on imports of GM soybeans.
Soybeans are also used in many food additives, such as Lecithin, This emulsifier is used in baked goods, chocolate, ice cream, as well as margarine.

Rapeseed

Cotton

Because rapeseed used to contain several undesirable traits such as bitter taste and toxicity, it did not become an important crop until recently.
Once modern plant breeding was done on this crop, cultivators were finally able to use rapeseed as a food source.
Through this genetic modification, the rapeseeds were stripped free of erucic acid and glucosinolates. The erucic acid was bitter and prevented the the use of rapeseed oil in foods. On the other hand, gluconsinolates were toxic and inhibited the crop's use in animal feed.
When the erucic acid and glucosinolates were removed from the rapeseeds, the result was known as "double-zero" rapeseed.
To differenciate the "double-zero" rapeseed from the inedible rapeseed, the crop was renamed "canola" (Canadian oil).
Refined rapeseed oil has been used extensively for margarine production. With its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (60-70%), rapeseed oil has also become important as a healthy cooking oil.
Rapeseed can also be used to produce vitamin E, certain emulsifiers, and other substances that can be used to lower cholesterol levels.
After oil pressing, the leftover meal can be used for animal feed. This protein-rich feed is often used to raise swine.
All of the GM rapeseed grown globally is herbicide-resistant, enabling a more efficient and effective approach towards weed control.

Not only is cotton a fiber used in textiles, but is also an important source of raw materials used in animal feed and for various processed food ingredients.
Many countries are now growing GM cotton crops. In China, GM cotton could dramatically decrese pesticide use.
Cotton fibers used in textiles across the globe come from the seed hairs of a plant known as Gossypium hirsutum. Cotton, which is cultivated on five continents, develops in closed, green capsules known as bolls that burst open when ripe, revealing the white, fluffy fibers.
After harvest, the fibers are seperated from the seed, which contain many proteins and oils that are valuable in various foods and feeds.
Cottonseed oil, a source of vitamin E, is a high-value cooking oil that is sometimes used to produce margarine.
Because of its high value in proteins, much of the cottonseed harvest is used in animal feed.
Leftover fibers that are too short to be spun into textiles consist of mainly cellulose. These fibers can be used as food additives such as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, or fillers.
GM cotton has become widespread, covering a total of 15 million hectares in 2007, or 43% of the world's cotton.
Most GM cotton is grown in India and the US, but it can also be found in China, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, and Columbia.
The GM cultivars grown today are resistant to herbicides and insect pests.

(5.4) (5.10) (5.11)

(5.5) (5.12) (5.13)

THE BIG FOUR

Soybeans

Otherwise known as corn, GM maize was grown for the first time in Canada and the United States in 1997.

Since then, the production of GM maize has expanded to more than 35 million hectares wordwide.

About 80% of the maize produced the United States is genetically modfied.

Maize is the only GM crop that is grown commercially in Europe, and it is also grown in many countries in North America, South America, Asia, and Africa.

Most maize grown today is used as animal feed.

To produce animal feed from maize, rather than harvesting only the ears, farmers harvest the entire plant.

Only a few foods are made from maize. These foods include: corn flakes, corn oil, popcorn, canned sweet corn, and corn on the cob.

Along with wheat and potatoes, maize is an important source of starch for countries worldwide.

Maize is also used as a raw material in the production of numerous food additives such as corn syrup and sugar subsitutes.

Maize

The first GM soybeans were planted in the United States in 1996.

More than 10 years later, the GM soybean crops were planted in 9 countries, covering over 60 million hectares.

The world’s leading soybean producers are the United States (33%), Brazil (27%), Argentina (21%), and China (7%). India and Paraguay are also noteworthy soybean producers.

In 2007, over half of the world's soybean crop (58.6%) was genetically modified.

Commercial plantings of GM soybeans can also be found in Uraguay, Paraguay, Canada, and South Africa.

Much of Europe's livestock feed is dependent on imports of GM soybeans.

Soybeans are also used in many food additives, such as Lecithin, This emulsifier is used in baked goods, chocolate, ice cream, as well as margarine.

Rapeseed

Cotton

Because rapeseed used to contain several undesirable traits such as bitter taste and toxicity, it did not become an important crop until recently.

Once modern plant breeding was done on this crop, cultivators were finally able to use rapeseed as a food source.

Through this genetic modification, the rapeseeds were stripped free of erucic acid and glucosinolates. The erucic acid was bitter and prevented the the use of rapeseed oil in foods. On the other hand, gluconsinolates were toxic and inhibited the crop's use in animal feed.

When the erucic acid and glucosinolates were removed from the rapeseeds, the result was known as "double-zero" rapeseed.

To differenciate the "double-zero" rapeseed from the inedible rapeseed, the crop was renamed "canola" (Canadian oil).

Refined rapeseed oil has been used extensively for margarine production. With its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (60-70%), rapeseed oil has also become important as a healthy cooking oil.

Rapeseed can also be used to produce vitamin E, certain emulsifiers, and other substances that can be used to lower cholesterol levels.

After oil pressing, the leftover meal can be used for animal feed. This protein-rich feed is often used to raise swine.

All of the GM rapeseed grown globally is herbicide-resistant, enabling a more efficient and effective approach towards weed control.

Not only is cotton a fiber used in textiles, but is also an important source of raw materials used in animal feed and for various processed food ingredients.

Many countries are now growing GM cotton crops. In China, GM cotton could dramatically decrese pesticide use.

Cotton fibers used in textiles across the globe come from the seed hairs of a plant known as Gossypium hirsutum. Cotton, which is cultivated on five continents, develops in closed, green capsules known as bolls that burst open when ripe, revealing the white, fluffy fibers.

After harvest, the fibers are seperated from the seed, which contain many proteins and oils that are valuable in various foods and feeds.

Cottonseed oil, a source of vitamin E, is a high-value cooking oil that is sometimes used to produce margarine.

Because of its high value in proteins, much of the cottonseed harvest is used in animal feed.

Leftover fibers that are too short to be spun into textiles consist of mainly cellulose. These fibers can be used as food additives such as thickeners, stabilizers, emulsifiers, or fillers.

GM cotton has become widespread, covering a total of 15 million hectares in 2007, or 43% of the world's cotton.

Most GM cotton is grown in India and the US, but it can also be found in China, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Mexico, and Columbia.

The GM cultivars grown today are resistant to herbicides and insect pests.

GENETICALLY

MODIFIED CROPS