GMOs: A Primer (Of Sorts)

My purpose today is to add some clarity and remind readers that, when it comes to most of the insurance products we sell, there is little, if any, insurance coverage response. But first, let’s take a look at what a GMO is, how long they have been around, and what they mean for agriculture and the food on your table.

GMOs have been in the farming industry now for 20-plus years. In fact, the first genetically engineered crop to be commercialized debuted in May of 1994 with the introduction of the FLAVR SAVR tomato.

The concept behind the FLAVR SAVR was that by modifying the plant, the ripe fruit would remain firmer for a longer period of time, perhaps even allowing it to be vine-ripened instead of being picked green.

The benefit behind that thinking was that instead of picking green fruit and artificially ripening them by the use of an ethylene treatment—this new product would approach better taste and shelf life. Initial attempts to sell the product in a tomato paste were successful, but then the higher production and distribution costs, along with some faulty data analysis reduced demand.

Like many products, lack of demand equals lack of market shelf space equals … NO sales. Despite this initial start-stop to the introduction of GMO products, there was no turning back.