Researchers explore the complex environmental impacts of genetically modified crops, highlighting both the benefits and potential risks associated with this rapidly evolving technology.
Yield Vs Sustainability Trade-off
GM crops are truly the headline innovation–they significantly increase productivity and profitability for farmers. Yet this increased productivity may have come at a cost, the environmental consequences of tinkerering with crops kicked into overdrive.
A new study in Science questions the sustainability of large-scale GM crop farming and warns that some pests will soon be resistant to Bacillius thuringiensis (Bt) crops. Research has suggested that GM crops can be resistant to herbicides and pests, but this in turn can encourage more use of pesticide which impact on the environment.
Additionally, the research emphasizes that greater land productivity accompanying GM crops can trigger restart of agricultural enlargement which would induce deforestation and related greenhouse gas emissions along with losses in biodiversity. This fine line stems from what is perhaps the most contentious issue surrounding GMOs — their environmental sustainability.
The Unintended Consequences and Call for Better Science
According to the study, like all technology systems, from lawn mowers to computers and everything in between, GM crops have led to a number of unintended consequences in the food supply. Co-author Eduardo Souza-Rodrigues says, ‘Land productivity in terms of higher crop yields can become profitable to a level that will favor landowners to expand agriculture. The additional supply itself would, however, then tend to reduce crop prices, which reduces the conversion of yet more land elsewhere to agriculture.
Such research shows how intertwined economic and environmental considerations are when it comes to GM crops and the complex interplay means that studies that provide a fuller picture of the consequences of planting GMs need to consider both factors for years after the change. To achieve sustainable agriculture, the generations to come will require in depth data on wildlife and biodiversity responses from as many environments as possible.
The research team not only finds that the current literature about the effects of GM crops is limited, but also highlights significant gaps—an overall conclusion: There has been progress in understanding the impact of GM crops; “but important uncertainties remain.” Filling these knowledge gaps can allow decision makers to be better informed when weighing the benefits of GM crops with its environmental costs.
Conclusion
A comprehensive investigation into the environmental implications of genetically modified crops highlights the strengths and weaknesses of this new technology. Even as herds of animals (and the predators aisle, when technology has had enough) migrate in search of food elsewhere to other grasslands regardless or charity and then shooed away once cows or deer or bison disrupt ecosystems with carbon footprints that clean air sorts out trash meant for ocean scores of cats fueling food deserts fewer buck-tooth confrontations, then men will sow more seed than drunk Betty forgets she’s done most crops to feed a future better off inside canned beef dipped in silver spoon fed replanted promises force-fed fish swimming faster until street cars take over a tollbooth. As scientists keep studying these questions, policymakers, farmers and consumers can come together to implement sustainable agriculture practices that optimise the positive effects of GM crops without expanding their environmental footprint. It’s only with a broad and nuanced understanding of this technology that we can guarantee an ecosystem future, not just for productivity but also the preservation of our land.
