Agricultural Biotechnology Is Much More Than Herbicide-Tolerant Crops

Abstract

Herbicide-tolerant genetically engineered (GE) plants have been a lightning rod for activists, who regularly attack them, citing a number of spurious objections. Contrary to their claims, the plants do not contain herbicides; rather they are resistant to the herbicides, in order to make weed control – an essential aspect of farming – more efficient and cost-effective. But molecular genetic engineering applied to crops has made monumental contributions in addition to herbicide-resistance, and these are discussed.