How has or will legislation regarding genetically modified foods affected agricultural production the US?

Answer 1

Congress has not actually had much to do with passing legislation in regard to genetically modified food production. Mainly, it has been regulated by the USDA (planting of GM crops) and the FDA (regulation of GMOs in foods that are produced). The EPA plays a part, too. Basically, the regulatory agencies have allowed commercial planting and production of GMO foods with very little actual oversight and regulation since 1996. Now, almost all soy and corn planted in the United States is GMO, and more kinds of GMO are being planted. In the future, on our current course, more and more GMO crops will be developed and planted, even though there is no evidence that yields are greater or that they are more nutritious (maybe less), and there is evidence that GMO production increases use of herbicides, and cross-pollination of GMO varieties threatens biodiversity.