Genetic modification refers to the deliberate changing of an organism's traits by manipulating its genetic material.
The selective cultivation of plants is a natural form of genetic manipulation that has been applied by farmers and plant cultivators for hundreds of years.
Farmers make use of selection to control the reproduction of their plants and animals in such a way that each new generation will have the most desirable traits of the parents.
In order to accelerate this process and ensure accurate transfer of desirable traits, crops are geneticallymanipulated in an artificial process.
The genes carrying the desired traits are identified and isolated
Desired genes are then artificially transferred into plant cells that will develop into adult plant with the desired traits
Genetic engineering can be used to increase food security
The most commonly genetically modified crops grown include maize, soybeans, beans, tomatoes, cotton, rice, potatoes and sugar cane
