Tag: food production

Tomato Research Made Easier For Scientists

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used plants in the process of genetic modification and experimentation. Researchers have been altering them for decades because they have a clear genetic structure so it comes as no surprise that a large number of scientific breakthroughs were made with this plant. However, scientists working at Boyce Thompson Institute managed to speed up the process of gene modification on tomatoes by exactly six weeks, which will make them even more popular for testing.

So how did they manage to do so? Researchers simply stumbled on this discovery while trying to make tomato plants more fertile. The team that was working on this project tried introducing DNA to a tomato in order to create a brand new plant. Auxin which is a hormone that speeds up the growth changed things up and it was responsible for the faster development of this plant. Therefore, the entire process of genetic modification was quicker as well.

Usually, the undertaking lasts for seventeen weeks. The scientists introduce new DNA to the tomato seed by inserting Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The modified cells directly influence the regeneration medium that is in charge of nutrients which are needed for a healthy development of a brand new plant xnxx. The modified plant is kept away from the soil for some time in order to grow roots. They are planted as soon as they are ready.

The new method shortens the length of the rooting process, completing the whole procedure in just eleven weeks. So why is this new approach useful for the researchers? Having in mind that tomato is frequently used for genetic modification, scientists will be able to closely monitor the growth of the plant and observe the changes that happen on both inside and the outside. Additionally, it will reduce the costs of the experiments, save time, and allow them to work on several projects at once.

Also, researchers will be able to test various other modifications and apply them to numerous plants that can solve various global problems, including the widespread of hunger and poverty in the third world countries. We are all aware of the issues that people in those countries face on a daily basis, and having a better understanding of the food production can revolutionize the agriculture all over the globe. There will be no need for financial aid from the developed countries once the steady production begins.

Understanding the DNA of a certain crop is the major step forward in creating crops that can survive harsh environment, and tomatoes are one of the best plants to use for analysis. Speeding up the development process will let scientists have more finances to fund other projects that might upgrade and enhance the food production in the future and ultimately provide us with a complete understanding of the GMO and the way they work. This finding will surely speed up the research that is currently underway at Boyce Thompson Institute and we can expect great things from the scientists that are working there.

Nestlé Removes GMO Ingredients from Their Ice Cream

The food manufacturing giants have recently announced that they will be removing GMO ingredients from a couple of their ice cream flavors. Nestlé are one of the biggest companies in the world today and the fact that they are actually listening to the demands of their customers who oppose GMO technology is a watershed moment for those who are putting an effort into removing GMO from the best-selling and well known food products.

A large number of consumers have contacted Nestlé demanding the removal of GMO ingredients from six ice cream products. Even though it has taken Nestlé some time to make a final decision, eventually they did reach the verdict and in order to keep their customers satisfied, GMO ingredients will be taken out of all of the requested products.

They released an official statement in which they pointed out that Nestlé Dreyer’s Ice Cream will be updating the ingredients of the following flavors: Edy’s 1, Häagen-Dazs, Outshine, Skinny Cow, Nestlé Ice Cream and Nestlé Drumstick. The focus will be on maintaining the well-known flavors with all new non-GMO ingredients. Therefore, the consumers will remain happy and get the healthiest possible version of their favorite ice cream product.

Nestlé will also closely examine a number of other products in order to determine if they need any modifications when it comes to ingredients. Their scientists will be inspecting over one hundred products and make a decision whether they need updates in terms of removing both GMO ingredients or artificial flavors and colors.

Their efforts should be praised because not many food manufacturers are ready to plunge into this so readily. They mostly ignore the critics and continue to use untested ingredients in their products anyway. Of course, there are plenty of research we need to complete in order to know exactly how GMO products influence our bodies and environment. But there are already so many people who oppose GMO technology and request that the big companies at least put a GMO label on their products.

As a matter of fact, other huge companies such as Kellogg’s and Mars made the announcements in March that they will be following Campbell’s’ steps and start putting GMO warning labels on the products that contain GMO ingredients. This seemed like a huge deal when it first came out, but Nestlé took it to a whole new level with the actual removal of GMO ingredients from their ice creams.

The labels appeared in April of 2016 all around the United States and that decision was rushed after a new GMO law was accepted in Vermont. The manufacturers have decided that it will be impossible to put the labels on their products in Vermont only, so they went big and nationwide and updated both the labels and the packaging of their products in all of the fifty states.

The bar was raised by Nestlé and we are eager to see what the other manufacturers will do in the future regarding the labels. The food production business is obviously very huge and they simply have to listen to the demands of their customers in order to keep them satisfied. If there is a request that an ingredient needs to be closely examined and revised, the large companies take the criticism very seriously and do their best to make further inquiry as soon as possible.

Knowing the ingredients that are in the food you consume is very important and we applaud Nestlé for listening to their customers. It is a big victory for the people who are not fans of GMO and we are sure that there will be more developments with this story in the future.