You will have read claims about GM crops with supposed nutritional benefits. Two of the most hyped are golden rice and GM tomatoes with supposed anti-cancer properties. These crops are only now (in 2023), however, starting to be commercialised in a limited way, even though in the case of Golden Rice it has been promoted as a life-saver for well over two decades.
But while stories about GM "miracles" are lapped up uncritically by the media, non-GM research into solving exactly the same kind of problems seems to get minimal if any reporting, even though it has been far more successful.
Of course, a note of caution needs to be struck about food faddism. The supposed benefits of foods we've been told are healthy in the past have often later been brought into serious question. Even beta carotene, the friendly substance found in yellow and green vegetables, is presented by different authorities as variously a cancer fighter and a cancer promoter.
In all cases, biofortified and neutraceutical foods are no substitute for a balanced, varied diet. People need a variety of nutrients in order to absorb and utilise the target nutrient. For example, people could not convert beta-carotene in a potential GM beta-carotene-enriched food into vitamin A without having enough fat in their diet, and malnourished people are unlikely to have access to fat.
If a fraction of the money and resources that are devoted to trying to develop GM "biofortified" foods were devoted to ensuring that people have access to a varied diet, there would be significantly less hunger in the world.
But for those who are attracted by the idea of "neutraceutical" foods, we don't need GM. Here are some non-GM examples of supposed "superfoods".
Ahi flower
Novel omega-3-rich crop launched in the UK (October 2015)
Banana
Non-GM beta-carotene-enriched bananas have long been available – the GM version is an example of biopiracy (October 2014)
Barley
New red beers are healthier than normal pints, says Carlsberg (August 2024)
"A crimson beer made from red barley has been created that is healthier and tastier than normal pints, according to brewers. Scientists at beer giant Carlsberg have created 'crossover' beers that are imbued with the colourful chemicals found in wines that have been linked to a host of health benefits. The experimental lager is less bitter and contains fewer hops than normal beer thanks to the addition of anthocyanins, chemicals in grape skins that make wine red... Red barley is not made by gene-editing but with specialised natural cross-breeding using techniques developed as part of the Carlsberg Research Laboratory’s own technology, dubbed Find-It, which allows scientists to identify desirable genes in other plants and then breed them into barley to create new varieties." [GMW comment: They are referring to marker assisted selection, a biotechnology that doesn't result in a GMO.]
Nutritionally superior non-GMO barley rolled out on European market (July 2020)
Beer brewers toast Australian gluten-free barley (April 2016)
Beans
Nyota Iron Bean is Kenya's "shining star" for better nutrition (June 2022)
Get more iron and flavour out of your beans (2021)
Non-GM iron-rich beans for Rwanda (April 2010)
Broccoli
Broccoli "super soup" may help keep type 2 diabetes at bay (May 2023)
A company called Smarter Food has developed a new strain of broccoli, GRextra, which contains high levels of glucoraphanin and sulforaphane, compounds that the company says can help lower elevated blood glucose levels.
Super-broccoli with high levels of chemicals credited with warding off cancer, health problems (October 2011)
Cassava
Cassava enriched with extra beta-carotene will be launched in 2011 by HarvestPlus (November 2010)
Cowpea
Garlic
Maize
More nutritious, natural flavour, non-GMO provitamin A-enhanced "orange corn" launches in US markets (February 2019)
Vitamin A orange maize improves night vision (October 2016)
Development of vitamin A biofortified maize through molecular breeding (March 2015)
Suntava non-GMO purple corn packs nutritional punch (February 2015)
Natural gene selection can produce orange corn rich in provitamin A for Africa, US (October 2014)
Non-GM beta-carotene enriched orange maize (September 2010)
Designed to help vitamin A deficiency.
Vitamin A equivalence of the β-carotene in β-carotene–biofortified maize porridge consumed by women. Shanshan Li, Angela Nugroho, Torbert Rocheford and Wendy S White. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (September 1, 2010).
Iron-fortified non-GM maize cuts anaemia rates in children (May 2007)
Fortifying cereals with a type of iron supplement reduces anaemia, iron-deficiency anaemia and general iron deficiency in children in developing countries, according to new research.
Millet
High-iron biofortified pearl millet released in India (July 2013)
High-iron pearl millet update (August 2011)
Millet rich in iron will be launched in 2011 by HarvestPlus (November 2010)
Pea
ARS releases winter peas for human food (December 2022)
The three varieties of winter peas have the following prized qualities: 1) high protein levels with a nearly complete amino acid profile; 2) peas lack the allergens common in soybeans and peanuts, which are often the supplier of protein; 3) a favorable, low glycemic index number; and 4) winter peas are not genetically modified; all of their development is done with traditional breeding.
Major company shows interest in “super pea” (March 2016)
Peas that will help animals absorb more protein from their diet (August 2015)
Peanuts
Researchers say they have invented non-allergenic peanuts (August 2014)
Non-GM process for allergen-free peanuts (June 2014)
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has signed a licensing agreement with Xemerge for a patented process that reduces allergens in peanuts by 98%.
US scientists develop low-allergy peanuts (June 2010)
Scientists in the US are developing "low-allergy" peanuts, offering hope to thousands of people with allergies associated with the popular seed.
Potato
Purple potato packs a health punch (May 2016)
Non-GMO purple potatoes offer fresh sales opportunity (December 2015)
USDA scientists develop anthocyanin-rich red and purple potatoes – and they're available now (December 2014)
"Healthy" non-GM purple potato goes on sale in UK supermarkets (October 2010)
UK scientists breed non-GM purple potato (January 2009)
A purple potato high in antioxidants has been developed by scientists at the Scottish Crop Research Institute.
Rice
High-zinc rice developed through cross-breeding (April 2023)
Improvement of the micronutrient content of rice through a cross-breeding approach has been successful for zinc. High-zinc rice varieties for different rice ecosystems, including irrigated lowland, upland, and swampy areas, have been developed and have the potential to be used for biofortification to reduce stunting prevalence.
This Hyderabad farmer has won a patent for Vitamin D-enriched rice and wheat (February 2021)
(This is an applied nurtients approach rather than a breeding success)
Mapping the way to even healthier (mineral-rich) rice (May 2013)
Low arsenic rice discovered in Bangladesh could have major health benefits (February 2013)
Malaysian scientists develop high yielding non-GM red rice with low glycaemic index for diabetics (April 2012)
New non-GM rice strain could help atopic dermatitis and diabetes (December 2009)
The rice contains highly concentrated Cyanidin-3-Glucoside or C3G which is known to ease symptoms of atopic dermatitis and diabetes.
Soybeans
New high oleic soybean trait is a functional, sustainable, and non-GMO way to provide healthier oil (Aug 2021)
Scientists have created new variety of low-allergenic soybean – and it’s non-GMO (May 2015)
Swiss develop healthier, more digestible soybean (December 2010)
New soybeans bred for oil that's more heart-healthy (September 2010)
USDA and university scientists have conventionally bred new soybean lines to have high levels of oleic acid, meaning more monounsaturated fat, allowing less need for resorting to hydrogenation.
Sweet potato
How the humble orange sweet potato won researchers the World Food Prize (June 2016)
Non-GMO sweet potatoes for Africa are rich in beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor.
Saving lives in Africa with the humble sweet potato (August 2012)
Magic mash: reducing child malnutrition with sweet potatoes (February 2015)
Orange beta carotene-enriched sweet potato a hit in Mozambique (November 2011)
Beta carotene-enriched sweet potato already improving health, self-sufficiency in Solomon Islands (July 2010)
Gates Foundation supports non-GM beta carotene-rich sweet potato in Africa (April 2006)
HarvestPlus received a US$ 6 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to introduce a nutritionally improved staple food - orange-fleshed sweet potato - into the diets of the undernourished in East Africa. As of November 2010, the sweet potato is already on the market. 2011 update: Orange sweet potatoes not just for Africa.
Tomatoes
New breeding program produces non-GMO purple tomatoes with high anthocyanin content (April 2023)
Strong start for YOOM Black Cocktail tomato production (April 2023)
These tomatoes are the colour of black pearl on the outside, with a deep scarlet colour on the inside, and have savory umami flavour. They also contain high levels of anthocyanins.
OSU releases new, antioxidant-rich purple tomato (April 2021)
The new Oregon State University-developed tomato Midnight Roma follows in the steps of 10-year-old Indigo Rose, the first antioxidant-rich purple tomato available on the market.
Purple "anti-ageing" tomatoes available in British supermarkets (May 2014)
Purple anthocyanin-rich anti-cancer tomato – seeds are actually on the market (January 2012)
Another non-GM anti-cancer purple tomato (December 2011)
Brazilian researchers have developed a purple tomato high in anthocyanins and vitamin C, nutrients that are thought to have anti-cancer properties.
Non-GM anti-cancer supertomato (July 2010)
Italian producers have unveiled a new 'supertomato' which they claim has the potential to slow the aging process as well as offering better quality and taste.
High beta-carotene non-GM tomatoes for West Africa (March 2009)
The Asian Vegetable Research and Development Center - The World Vegetable Center has released the results of the evaluation of 20 tomato lines for adoption in West Africa. The testing is a part of a project on Vegetable Breeding and Seed Systems for Poverty Alleviation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Rice
Mapping the way to even healthier (mineral-rich) rice (May 2013)
Wheat
New zinc-fortified wheat set for global expansion to combat malnutrition (April 2021)
This Hyderabad farmer has won a patent for Vitamin D-enriched rice and wheat (February 2021)
(This is an applied nurtients approach rather than a breeding success)
Low-gluten wheat alternative ‘miracle grain’ presents ‘clear market opportunity’ (June 2019)
Zinc-enriched wheat will be launched in 2011 by HarvestPlus (November 2010)