Since its inception, agriculture has depended on the modification of the genetic makeup of plants and animals. Through selective breeding, countless generations of crops and livestock animals have been selected for traits considered beneficial to humans. Starting in the early 20th century, scientific discoveries resulted in numerous technologies that accelerated innovation in agriculture, with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genetically modified (GM) foods being the most notable and frequently discussed. This paper describes the use of GMOs in agriculture and the potential of new gene editing technologies. In addition, the paper provides a comparative overview of the regulatory system for GMOs in Canada, the United States (U.S.) and the European Union (EU).
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