Natural GMO? Sweet Potato Genetically Modified 8,000 Years Ago : Goats and Soda : NPR

So why does an 8,000-year-old GM sweet potato matter? The example might be helpful for regulators and scientists looking at the safety of GM crops, Jaffe says. "In many African countries, some regulators and scientists are skeptical and have some concerns about whether these crops are safe," Jaffe says. "This study will probably give them some comfort. It puts this technology into context."

But the study won't assuage many consumers' worries about GMOs, Jaffe says. "A lot people's concerns aren't just about whether what the scientists have done is natural or whether the crops are safe to eat."

Many people worry about whether GMOs increase the use of pesticides and herbicides. Or that some companies use the technology to make seeds intellectual property. "In these instance, you have to look at the GMO on a case-by-case basis," Jaffe says.

In the case of sweet potatoes, at least, the world seems clear on all those fronts.

Natural GMO? Sweet Potato Genetically Modified 8,000 Years Ago : Goats and Soda : NPR