in the regulation of gmos between countries, with some of the most marked differences occurring between the us and europe. regulation varies in a given country depending on the intended use of the products of the genetic engineering. for example, a crop not intended for food use is generally not reviewed by authorities responsible for food safety. the european union differentiates between approval for cultivation within the eu and approval for import and processing. while only a few gmos have been approved for cultivation in the eu a number of gmos have been approved for import and processing. the cultivation of gmos has triggered a debate about the coexistence of gm and non-gm crops. depending on the coexistence regulations, incentives for the cultivation of gm crops differ. learning in 1988, after prompting from the united states congress, the national institute of general medical sciences (national institutes of health) (nigms) instituted a funding mechanism for biotechnology training. universities nationwide compete for these funds to establish biotechnology training programs (btps). each successful application is generally funded for five years then must be competitively renewed. graduate students in turn compete for acceptance into a btp; if accepted, then stipend, tuition and health insurance support are provided for two or three years during the course of their phd thesis work. nineteen institutions offer nigms supported btps. biotechnology training is also offered at the undergraduate level and in community colleges.