The Rise and Fall of FLAVR SAVR Tomato: A Delayed Ripening Tomato - Research Paper Example

?"The Rise and Fall of FLAVR SAVR Toma A Delayed Ripening Tomato" Introduction: Genes, the genetic make-up of both plants and animals form the foundation as well as subsistence of life on the planet. On expression, genes display the appearance of the organism. They are accountable for the overall predilection of an organism and what the organism is going to be. Humans are utilizing their potentials to explore and reveal the surreptitious lying uncharted. The advent of genetic engineering has revolutionized this investigation procedure. Genetic manipulations are being performed to bring out the best by altering the genetic make-up of the plants as well as animals. Initially, the process was initiated with the micro-organisms and now it has taken a prominence in the food stuffs, where genetic amendments are paving way to take a form of revolution in the food industry. The biggest question that ponders in the mind is regarding safety of these food items. Are they really safe or they are daunting? Genetic manipulations involving transformations has generated various novel products not only related to food stuffs but also in the field of health services where microbes are being utilized to generate imperative and life saving medicines like insulin, various vaccines are being generated to prevent and safeguard the survival of human, plants as well as animals. The success of these products lies in the acceptance by the people and they should not project any health hazards. FLAVR SAVR Tomato Genetically modified or GM, are the food stuffs possessing altered genetic makeup. In these food stuffs either some of the genes are incorporated or they are obliterated in order to enhance the quality of the product. Keeping this view, the first genetically engineered crop variety of tomato called FLAVR SAVR was created in 1992 by a California-based organization called "Calgene". It obtained FDA approval two years later on 18th May 1994, and got prevalence in the market without any label of "GM" i.e. Genetically Modified. FDA reasoned out that the product does not possess any noticeable health risk and therefore labeling is not mandatory; moreover the nutrient value of the product was not altered (Panse). Reasons for creating FLAVR SAVR Tomato Globalization has made the world small. People residing in a particular geographical area are now able to enjoy the fruits and vegetables growing under different climatic or environmental conditions. This has generated a need to cultivate fruits and vegetables not only for making them available in the local market but also for transporting them across the national and international boundaries. Transportation of these food stuffs require prevention against any kind of damage or over ripening and putrification. Thus, to enhance the shelf life of these food items, harvesting was done when the fruits and vegetables were unripe, followed by ethylene gas treatment, such treatment hampers their natural taste and flavor. In order to overcome these hurdles, Calgene attempted to generate lasting food stuffs with retained flavor. Attempts were made to genetically modify tomato because of ease in handling, thus with ten years of constant research process Calgene came up with a genetically modified tomato, FLAVR SAVR tomato (Panse). Genetic Modifications Involved in FLAVR SAVR tomatoes FLAVR SAVR tomatoes encompassed the incorporation of two genes. One of the two genes was a reverse copy of polygalacturonase gene (PG) responsible for the breakdown of cellulose. This gene is incorporated in reverse form and hence is called antisense. Therefore, antisense gene which was introduced into the tomato impeded the formation of polygalacturonase enzyme, which is otherwise responsible for degradation of pectin present in the cell wall, making the tomato soft. Presence of antisense PG enzyme does not allow the tomatoes to lose the stiffness. This prevents the microbial infestation, as soft and pulpy tomatoes invite the microbial attack. By altering the enzymic activity decaying course is diminished and thereby prevent the tomatoes from becoming soft. On the other hand natural color and flavor was retained. FLAVR SAVR tomatoes were allowed to ripen in vine and thus their shelf-life was not compromised (Panse). The other gene that was introduced in FLAVR SAVR tomatoes coded for resistance towards the antibiotic Kanamycin. The motive behind this incorporation was to have a marker or a reporter gene to aid in the recognition of the precise transformation process (Panse). Failure of FLAVR SAVR Although the advent of biotechnology was promising in many paradigms and has successfully generated numerous products, but as far as genetically modified food stuffs are concerned, obstacles are evident. Aware consumers are worried about the health issues and also about the impact of genetically modified food stuffs on the environment. A handful of appraisals only fell in favor of genetically modified food stuffs. While others framed the opinion of appropriately labeling the product as GM. While a few others believed that production of such food stuffs should be closed. FLAVR SAVR could not gain much prominence because of poor management of the Calgene company as well as lack of experience in handling and transporting the tomatoes, leading to the failure of FLAVR SAVR tomatoes. The product was attributed as the inferior quality by the farmers. It was evident that the selection of the tomato was not appropriate and was of substandard kind. It was not good in taste and consequently, provided a blend taste as compared to other natural varieties available in the market (Panse). Another reason that emerged as the cause of failure was the cross-breeding of FLAVR SAVR with other tastier varieties were not made. In the process Calgene suffered a great management inaccuracy and had to bear intense loss and could not gain any benefit. Moreover, the company Calgene was later occupied in legal squabbling with opponent Monsanto. All these ceased the production of FLAVR SAVR tomatoes and this resulted in the disappearance of the GM FLAVR SAVR tomatoes from the market (Panse). Meanwhile Zeneca came up with a Genetically modified tomato for its use in tomato puree, which was cheap as compared to the non-genetically modified puree. The genetically modified tomato generated by Zeneca, was voluminous and had little water, the puree obtained had enhanced viscosity which is more appropriate to be consumed and used in puree or soup. This has wiped off the genetically modified tomato the FLAVR SAVR. Genetically modified tomato produced by Zeneca captured the market in 1996. The company not only selected a superior variety of the tomato for genetic modification but also made the appropriate marketing policy that made the product more alluring for the buyers. Since then various companies were mushrooming in the domain of genetically modified tomatoes (Failure of the first GM Foods). To prove their worth, Calgene conducted three 28-day studies, feeding rats with GM tomato, a non-GM tomato, or deionized water. It was astonishing as some of the studies showed the presence of lesions which were not communicated to the mob by FDA. Later in 1993 it was tried to establish that no cause of lesion could be recognized, but Calgene could not generate enough data in its defense (Failure of the first GM Foods). FLAVR SAVR was originally generated in California when production was shifted to Florida the production could not be made, as the GM tomatoes could neither stand the climatic alterations nor they could generate resistance against the fungal infections. Thus with great loss and heavy heart the company was forced to close down the production of FLAVR SAVR (Failure of the first GM Foods). Disadvantages of Genetically modified FLAVR SAVR Researchers apprehended a fear of antibiotic resistant gene, gene resistant to Kanamycin that was incorporated while developing the FLAVR SAVR tomatoes. This may induce resistance in microbial population. Mass Acceptance Surveys indicate that a majority of Americans support mandatory labeling of genetically modified foods. As stated earlier in the article 21 European nations have made it mandatory to put a "GM" tag on the product; 90% of the Americans are also in the favor of making it mandatory to put "Genetically Modified" tag on the food stuff. This enables the customer to be aware of the kind of ingredients the food items contains. The label should also encompass the requisite for the temperature and other environmental conditions (Labeling Policy for GM Foods: Pragmatism in Action or Policy Failure?). Regulations need to be formulated as what is the permissible percentage of the genetic modification allowed. What are the list of products that essentially needs the label "GM". As mentioned in the article there is huge economic loss for the product due to the little knowledge of the common consumers. Market does not have all the qualified and well aware consumers and so economic impact of the labeling must be calculated (Klintman, M). It is therefore manifested that success story of the genetically modified food stuff is accredited to the mass acceptance of the food product. Although, initial reports on the FLAVR SAVR showed some concern and favor, but later it could not stand to the expectations leading to the failure of FLAVR SAVR. On the other hand, some patrons have condemned the product generated by Calgene, challenging bigger FDA inspection and a closer long term examination. Customers found it unethical and against the nature. It is manifested that tomatoes require warm climatic conditions, for long distance transportation they need to be picked green. With the introduction of FLAVR SAVR tomatoes, antibiotic resistance was also introduced in millions of consumers, although this does not find relevance when experimented. Discussion The fate of FLAVR SAVR was influenced by many biotechnologists and also by the crowd. Scientists were enthusiastic with the implementation of new technology in the field of agriculture but the health concerns as well the marketing policy of the Calgene was not to the expected paradigms to cope with the interest of the people over the trendy tomatoes that were already prevalent in the market. Moreover, the health issues were also not safeguarded by the Calgene company and hence the company's wrong selection of the tomato type as well as wrong marketing policies were incompetent to allow the Calgene to create its existence in the market. As other companies had better options for the people the pioneer in the GM food stuff the Calgene perished with its innovative product FLAVR SAVR. The message provided by the rise and fall of FLAVR SAVR tomatoes provides an insight that an organization must have an appropriate management skill along with the long term research and innovative approach else some other organization with better policies will capture the market and also rule the psychology of the people. This is essential to meet the Darwin's principle "Survival of the fittest". References Failure of the first GM Foods. Available at http://www.ghorganics.com/failure%20of%20the%20first%20GM%20foods.htm. [Accessed on 8th June 2011]. Labeling Policy for GM Foods: Pragmatism in Action or Policy Failure? Available at http://ideas.repec.org/a/ags/cafric/45733.html. [Accessed on 8th June 2011]. Klintman, M. The Genetically Modified (GM) Food Labeling Controvery: Ideological and Epistemic Crossovers. Available at http://www.jstor.org/pss/3182978. [Accessed on 8th June 2011]. Panse, S. History of the Genetically Engineered Tomato. Available at http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/27236.aspx. [Accessed on 8th June 2011]. Read More