FlavrSavr
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The FlavrSavr® tomato was the first commercially grown genetically engineered food to be granted a license for human consumption. It was produced by Calgene Inc. of Davis, California and submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992. It was first sold in 1994, and was only available for a few years before production ceased. Calgene made history but mounting costs prevented it from becoming profitable, and it was eventually acquired by Monsanto.
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[edit] Characteristics
The tomato was made more resistant to rotting, by adding an antisense gene which interferes with the production of the enzyme polygalacturonase(see RNA interference). This enzyme is normally responsible for cell walls softening during the fruit ripening.
Unmodified tomatoes are picked before fully ripened and artificially ripened using ethylene gas which acts as a plant hormone. Picking the fruit while unripe allows for easier handling and extended shelf-life. FlavrSavr tomatoes could be allowed to ripen on the vine, without compromising their shelf-life. The intended effect was an improved flavor which would warrant a premium price at the supermarket.
The FDA stated that special labeling for these modified tomatoes was not necessary because they have the essential characteristics of non-modified tomatoes. Specifically, there was no evidence for health risks, and the nutritional content was unchanged.
[edit] Commercialization
[edit] Fresh Tomatoes
The failure of the FlavrSavr has been attributed to Calgene's inexperience in the business of growing and shipping tomatoes [1]. The variety of tomato Calgene started with was considered by farmers to be inferior, and insufficient resources were allocated to traditional plant breeding. As a result, Calgene's fields produced only 25-50% as many boxes per acre compared to most growers. Of these, only half as many as anticipated were large enough to be sold as premium-priced "McGregors". Furthermore, much of the initial harvest was damaged during processing and shipping because ripe tomatoes are unavoidably more delicate than unripened ones. Equipment designed for handling peaches was purchased, and specialized shipping crates were developed, both at great expense. These costs along with competition from a new conventionally bred Long Shelf Life (LSL) variety prevented the FlavrSavr from becoming profitable, and Calgene was eventually bought by Monsanto which was primarily interested in Calgene's ventures into cotton and oilseed.
[edit] Tomato Paste
A variant of the FlavrSavr was used by Zeneca to produce tomato paste which was sold in Europe during the summer of 1996. The higher pulp content of the FlavrSavr was expected to allow for more efficient processing of the thick pastes and ketchups preferred by consumers. The paste was labelled as "genetically altered", and priced (at a loss) below its competitors. This commercialization strategy was primarily intended as a marketing experiment which proved that, at the time, European consumers would accept genetically engineered foods. This attitude was drastically changed after outbreaks of Mad cow disease weakened consumer trust in government regulators, and protesters rallied against the introduction of Monsanto's Roundup-Ready soybeans. (see Trade war over genetically modified food)
[edit] References
- ^ Charles, Dan. 2001. Lords of The Harvest. Perseus Publishing.
