Transgenic plants are plants that have been genetically engineered, a breeding approach that uses recombinant DNA techniques to create plants with new characteristics. They are identified as a class of genetically modified organism (GMO).
The main advantages of transgenic plants include larger yield, resistance to diseases and pests and capable of growing under stressful conditions, while their main disadvantages include allergic reactions, emergence of super-pests and loss of biodiversity.
China was the first country to commercialize transgenic plants, introducing a virus-resistant tobacco in 1992. In 1994 Calgene attained approval to commercially release the Flavr Savr tomato, the first genetically modified food.