Safety assessment of genetically modified crops for yield increase and resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses and their impact on human and environment

Abstract

Biotechnology has now accelerated the breeding evolution of agricultural products to obtain stress-tolerant crops with improved productivity to meet the increasing global demand which is in direct correlation with demographic trends. Nutritional quality, food allergies, toxicity effects, and unwanted resistance and alternations in gene sequences are the main concerns of genetically engineered products. Despite the numerous and overall benefits of genetically engineered crops, the questions raised by unwanted and unpredictable consequences about their safety concerns that may harm human, animal, and/or the ecosystem health require a long-term and a case-by-case transparent assessments before releasing the biotech crops into the food chain.