There are many reasons and perceived benefits of genetically modified food. Agricultural scientists and food policy specialists consider genetically modified crops an important part in the maintenance of food security (a condition wherein no one in the world lives with hunger or fear of starvation).

Many studies were conducted and their results are well documented. Over and over, it was discovered that historically and economically there were always positive benefits of plant breeding research globally. Human beings have been modifying plants for a long time in order to ensure human welfare (the corn plant looks the way it does because it was bred that way, its current shape is not natural). Genetic modification is just one step further in a very old direction.

A look at the farming and economical trends on the past few years in countries like Bangladesh, India, and Philippines clearly shows that every time these countries adopted modern plant varieties over prior versions the food prices decreased bringing more and more food within grasp of people below the poverty line.

Studies conducted in China show that agricultural research increased farm output and lowered food prices to such an extent that urban poverty was reduced by 30% between 1992 and 1998. Similarly, in India agricultural research yielded more crops, lower food prices, and decrease in rural poverty. In both cases, it a drop in food prices always led to a decrease in urban poverty.

However, there are some governments that are highly concerned with the risks associated with genetically modified foods. Notably, the European Union and Japan are adamant a about the proper labeling and trace ability of genetically modified food. The United States on the other hand considers these demands frivolous and unnecessary, claiming that they violate the free trade agreement.

The scientific community is equally divided over genetically modified foods with one part concerned only with bettering the overall state of food availability for human beings while the other part is more concerned over the unintentional ill effects that can be brought about due to mindless genetic manipulation. The latter group also claims that genetically modified foods offer no significant advantages over conventional crops.

The first commercial GMF was a tomato called FlavrSavr created by Calgene (a California based company). It was submitted for FDA approval in 1992 and in 1994 was released into the market at a price that was two to five times lower than regular tomatoes.