FOOD 
FE
TRENDS
ATURE
that cause allergy and suitably replace or
Consumers all over the world want
eliminate the allergens. Asia - the future of GM products
it all in terms of buying a product
Asia is home to the world's largest consumer
Advances in genetic engineering and base and number of farmers. The stakes in
that has acceptable taste, health
breakthrough results don’t come without risks. Asia's decision on GM food are enormous, as
and nutrition profile, as well as The tampering of the genetic makeup of plants it is a huge market in seeds and crops. With
being convenient
may have unanticipated outcomes such as: rising concern over GM foods in Europe, more
than two-thirds of exported US corn (maize)
■  A tendency to provoke a highly allergic now goes to Asia and Africa. A backlash
of Technology have developed genetically reaction against these exports could be a significant
modified rice that contains sufficient levels of obstacle to GM foods.
beta-carotene to ensure sufficient vitamin A ■  Instability of the inserted gene, altering the
content in rice-based diets. Such benefits are original gene expression In the 1990s, China first allowed the sale of
prompting food manufacturers to apply biotech genetically modified cotton, corn, tomatoes,
processes to explore different avenues in food ■  Development of antibiotic resistance and soy. But as global concern arose about the
production. potential long-term effects of tinkering with
■  Cross-breeding and pesticide resistant insects the genetic make-up of food staples, China
Some advantages of biotechnology in food suspended the commercialisation of any new
production are: ■  Biodiversity and cross-contamination varieties of genetically modified organisms
(GMO) in 2000. But recent trends reveal that
■  It broadens the range of possible sources ■  Accidental creation of untested and China with an investment of US$500 million
of food. For example, the source of rennet, unpredictable strains of plant life stands next to the US in the research of GM
the enzyme involved in cheese making, is foods. China is soon to become the first
the lining of the calves’ stomach. However, Research is underway to produce bananas that developing country in the world to allow
the use of biotechnology has enabled can be a source of human vaccines against the sale of genetically modified rice. As the
researchers to isolate the gene responsible hepatitis B; to culture fish that mature more world's largest rice market, any decision
for rennet production and reproduce it. quickly; to grow fruit and nut trees that yield of China on GM rice is expected to have
years earlier. Potatoes that absorb less oil implications across the globe.
■  It widens consumer’s choice of foods. when made into chips and French fries are also
Biotechnology can also be applied to in the development stage. China: food industry snapshot
the manufacture of naturally occurring The major domestic retail players are Hualian
compounds, which cannot be manufactured Manufacturers are under pressure to and Lianhua. Foreign investment in the retail
otherwise. For example, biotechnology continually innovate as a result of increased sector is now peopled with the likes of Wal-
has enabled the commercial production competition from low-cost Asian manufacturers Mart, Makro, Metro, and Carrefour. Examples
of fructans, which was otherwise a great and escalating prices of raw materials. of consumer trends that are making a
challenge to the manufacturers. Application Moreover, population growth, mushrooming difference in the food market are:
of this technology has helped scientists urban culture, pre- and post-harvest food
isolate a gene from beet, which is losses, environmental, and hygiene are ■  The widening of tastes of the Chinese
responsible for producing fructans. This gene examples of some of the issues that continual palate, with an increased acceptance of
enables conversion of 90.0 per cent of sugar to challenge the food industry. western-style foods
in beets to fructans.
Such concerns increase the need for ■  The increased demand for processed,
■  Expands the scope of genetic changes. improvements in the production of convenience foods
Biotechnology has also helped to improve economically viable products. Over the
the action of yeast in bread making. By years, manufacturers are increasingly ■  The rise in disposable income
rearranging and duplicating certain yeast looking at biotechnology to gain processing
genes, researchers have improved the improvements and to develop better tasting ■  The shift in consumption from cereals,
efficiency of the leavening process in breads and more nutritious food products. root crops, and tubers, to meats, poultry,
and pastries. chicken, seafood, fruits, vegetables, dairy
Conclusion products, and oilseeds.
■  Provides consumer with healthy, better Before it emerges as a viable solution to
tasting and safe foods. Peanuts, soybeans, feed the world, the road ahead for GM foods functional importance of most plant genes
fish, crustaceans, cereals containing gluten, will definitely be more challenging. The first will be nearly complete and the technology
milk and dairy products, sesame seeds, nuts, generation of genetically engineered crop was for producing GM foods will be far better than
and sulphites are examples of some foods developed primarily to benefit the growers. it is now. As the tools and techniques used
that can cause allergies to some people. The changing trends of GM foods are expected in biotechnology become more complex, the
However, recent advances in biotechnology to directly benefit consumers. In another few regulatory agencies must prepare for the
have helped to identify the molecules decades, global understanding about the safety and potential challenges that novel
www.agrowmag.com  •   May 2007 3
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