Concept and realization

Abstract

In the Agro-Food sector of the European Union the first products based on modem biotechnology or genetic engineering have entered the market (e. g. recombinant chymosin for cheese production, tomato puree, herbicide-resistant plants). In the coming years an increasing influence of biotechnology on agriculture, food production and food processing is expected. However, the application of modern biotechnology in agriculture and the food industry is still being intensively discussed in the EU countries. One of the latest indicators in this context represent the results of the Eurobarometer survey which was conducted in 1996 (European Commission 1997), the activities accompanying the market introduction of the herbicide-resistant soybean by Monsanto in autumn 1996, as well as the intensive public debate after the birth of the cloned sheep “Dolly” in spring 1997 (Wilmut et al. 1997).