The present invention discloses transgenic monocot plants in which the plastid genome has been genetically engineered. The bioconfined genetically engineered monocot crops have transgene-free pollen grains which eliminate or dramatically reduce transgene flow. The present invention discloses plastid transgenesis technology having the additional advantages of the absence of gene silencing and position effect variation, the ability to express polycistronic messages from a single promoter, integration via a homologous recombination process that facilitates targeted gene replacement and precise transgene control, and sequestration of foreign proteins in the organelle which prevents adverse interaction with the cytoplasmic environment.