On Jun. 27, 1991, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved two pesticides containing genetically engineered bacteria, marking the first time the agency has certified such products as safe for commercial use. Mycogen scientists received permission to test MVP, the first genetically engineered biopesticide to receive the EPA’s stamp of approval.

The pesticides, made by Mycogen Corp., could be sprayed on a wide variety of crops, providing the company carried out a six-month monitoring program to ensure the genetically altered organisms pose no environmental or health threat. In 1998, Mycogen became part of Dow AgroSciences, ow known as Corteva Agriscience.

.