Its been 10 years since the first genetically modified crops have been approved. Since then the cultivated areas have increased upto 90 million hectares in 2005. The world leader is United States. 18 countries are currently cultivating GMOs, Romania being among these. We can already talk about a history of plants cultivation and consumption. This is a history with no unforeseen events.

The first genetically modified crops are soybean and rapeseed which are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton resistant to insects attacks. Later on new products have occurred, such as corn and cotton pest resistant and with total tolerance to herbicides. US has cultivated in 2005 the first corn hybrids resistant to Lepidoptera insects, to roots worm ( Diabrotica sp.) and tolerant to total herbicides. Over 45 countries have undertaken in parallel tests for studying resistant to pathogens attacks, for synthesizing healthier oils with industrial destinations, for systemizing pharmaceutical molecules etc.

Investments in research and development are increasingly made. These includes countries like China and India.

Farmers willing to cultivate genetically modified crops are confronting with a striking paradox. They have to cultivate such plants only after receiving approvals from the competent authorities. This approval needs to be taken by the seeds producers if they demonstrate that the products do not affect human health, or animals health or the environment. The modern biotechnology products cannot be used in a country where there is no relevant legislation in place nor an institutional framework.

Many countries have a specific legislation. The stricter legislation has been achieved in the EU. In years to come this will probably restrict farmers from cultivating. Being a unique market, the approval for introducing genetically modified crops in the market is to taken from European Commission. Theoretically all decision of the Commission have to science based. Practically these have been so far political based.

This webpage has the objective of giving Romanian farmers with information of their interest, relevant information on the technological, economic and social advantages of these crops and the benefits of using modern biotechnology. We will bring legislative news, or keep you informed with the most recent scientific events on this matter. We will also inform you on what opponents are saying, the means they use for stopping the cultivation of genetically modified crops. Sometime among the opponents are the competent authorities themselves. Why do we give you such information? Because an informed person is worth better than two uninformed ones!