Genetically Engineered Soybeans

Genetically Engineered Soybeans (GE Soybeans) are soybeans that have had their DNA modified via genetic engineering. Varieties of GE soybeans that contain more than one trait are referred to as "stacked." Most GE soybeans are herbicide tolerant soybeans. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2010, 93 percent of all soybeans planted in the U.S. were herbicide tolerant. Other varieties of GE soybeans include:


 * DuPont High Oleic Acid Oil Soybean, G94-1, G94-19, G-168
 * Pioneer: High Oleic Acid Soybean (DP-3Ø5423-1), deregulated in the U.S. in June 2010
 * Monsanto: Bt Soybean (MON 87701), deregulated in the U.S. in October 2011.
 * Monsanto: High Oleic Acid Roundup Ready Soybean and (MON-877Ø5-6), deregulated in the U.S. in December 2011.
 * Monsanto: Stearidonic Acid Produced Soybean (MON-87769, deregulated in the U.S. in December 2011.

Adoption Rates in the U.S.
Following the 1996 introduction of genetically engineered soybeans, its adoption by U.S. farmers grew. The USDA offers data on the percent of soybeans in the U.S. that is genetically engineered between 2000 and 2012:
 * 2000: 54%
 * 2001: 68%
 * 2002: 75%
 * 2003: 81%
 * 2004: 85%
 * 2005: 87%
 * 2006: 89%
 * 2007: 91%
 * 2008: 92%
 * 2009: 91%
 * 2010: 93%
 * 2011: 94%
 * 2012: 93%

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Biotechnology
 * Glyphosate
 * Herbicide Tolerant Crops
 * Roundup Ready Crops
 * Genetically Modified Organisms
 * Monsanto
 * Bayer CropScience
 * Soy Cultivation in South America

External resources

 * GM Crop Database, Center for Environmental Risk Assessment
 * Overview of GMO Events Commercially Available and Regulatory Status
 * Novel Food Decisions - Approved Products, Health Canada.
 * Charles Benbrook, "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years" and Supplemental Tables, The Organic Center, 2009.
 * "Failure to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered Crops," Union of Concerned Scientists, 2009.

External articles

 * Andy Bloxham, Toxic pesticides from GM food crops found in unborn babies, The Telegraph, May 20, 2011.
 * William Neuman and Andrew Pollack, "Farmers Cope With Roundup-Resistant Weeds," New York Times, May 3, 2010.