The application of biotechnology in agriculture, animal husbandry and food industry is also eye-catching. On May 18, 1994, the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration officially approved tomatoes grown using genetic engineering for sale. California Genetics invested 20 million US dollars and spent 8 years successfully cultivating this genetically modified tomato. It is not easy to rot, is resistant to storage and transportation, and can be picked after it is fully mature, so it tastes particularly delicious. Genetically modified tomatoes successfully bred in Japan have also been planted in Tsukuba City. Potatoes that are resistant to pests and diseases have been successfully cultivated in Mexico. Since 2010, the Mexican government has been supplying these genetically modified potato seedlings to farmers. In this way, about 60% to 10% of losses can be avoided every year. Genetically modified cotton that is not afraid of herbicides, blue cotton specially used for weaving denim, and genetically modified tobacco with insecticidal capabilities have all been successfully cultivated. Chinese scientists used low-energy ion beam technology to cultivate the world's first genetically modified rice, and used genetic recombination technology to cultivate morning glories with a long flowering period and the ability to change flower colors, indicating that my country's plant genetic engineering has narrowed the gap with the world's level. Fruitful results have also been achieved in animal genetic engineering. Since the 1990s, genetically modified animals—cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, etc.—have been successfully bred. The European Lefford Bioengineering Company recently bred a cow with human genes. Its female offspring can produce milk containing iron lactic acid. This kind of milk, like human breast milk, can promote the absorption of iron in children. In 1992, the Edinburgh Pharmaceutical Protein Company in the United Kingdom developed a genetically modified sheep called "Tracy" whose milk contained a protease that could control the growth of human tissue. This protease only exists in the human body and cannot be synthesized chemically and produced industrially. Therefore, the successful breeding of "Tracy" sheep aroused great interest in the medical community, and the German chemical company Bayer spent a lot of money to buy the right to use this sheep. The Roslin Institute of Physiology and Genetics in Edinburgh, UK, has bred a genetically modified rooster whose female offspring can produce eggs containing coagulation factors necessary to treat hemophilia and a human protein that can treat emphysema. In January 2011, Israeli scientists also successfully bred a goat named "Gitty", which carried the human serum protein gene. Every liter of milk produced by "Gitty"'s female offspring can extract 10 grams of albumin. Serum protein is a major component of human plasma and can be used to treat shock, burns and replenish blood loss. Scientists at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom have developed genetically modified pigs that can provide hearts, lungs, and kidneys to humans. Transplanting organs from such pigs into humans can greatly reduce the risk of recipient rejection. Currently, countries around the world are increasing their investment in biotechnology research, vigorously developing the biotechnology industry, and developing and producing biotechnology products. In the past 20 years, more than 1,000 biotechnology companies have been established in the United States. Starting in 1998, the revenue of the U.S. biotechnology industry began to increase significantly. The 1990s saw a golden age for biotechnology product sales. It is expected that by the end of 1995, sales will reach 6 billion US dollars. In 1995, the US budget for biotechnology development will reach 4 billion US dollars. The Japanese government has decided to make biotechnology, new materials and new energy the key areas of scientific and technological development. Japan has spent huge sums of money to purchase large quantities of American biotechnology achievements and patents to develop its own biotechnology industry. Japan's rapid development has threatened the United States' leading position in biotechnology. The U.S. National Research Council has called for a halt to one-way technology exports to Japan, and the British government has adjusted its science and technology development strategy and decided to prioritize the development of bioscience and technology. As a developing country, Thailand spends US$60 million on biological science research each year. In order to accelerate the development of bioscience and technology, Thailand has established a genetic engineering and biotechnology center. Our country has included bioengineering technology in the “863” high-tech development plan.
As time goes by, the biotechnology industry will surpass the computer industry in terms of scale and importance, becoming the fastest growing industry in the 21st century!