Crop biotechnology offers better yield and sustainability benefits compared to non-GMO farming

February 21, 2023 | Biotechnology

Adopting the best food producing technologies is a government decision that requires a cost-benefit analysis.

Over the last 25 years, many governments have approved agricultural biotechnologies and the genetically modified (GM) crops that come along with them because of higher yield and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Still, other governments refused to adopt as they found the costs outweigh the benefits, even though glaring evidence already showed that those who opted not to adopt GM had lower agricultural productivity.

For food insecure countries, choosing the best food producing technology is vital. Farmers from these countries don’t have enough access to pesticides that could control the insect population, thereby reducing crop yield once the insects attack. This gives more reason for adoption of GM crops that are insect resistant.

Academicians also studied and analyzed the yield effects following the adoption of crop biotech, particularly on the markets they have been commercialized in and they found increasing yields. With these, countries are starting to make food security decisions based on their agricultural capabilities, approving GM crop production.

Much like the US, their decision to adopt crop biotech was rooted on the benefits of science, environmental concerns, food security, and agricultural productivity rather than assumed or potential costs. On the other hand, the EU made their decision based on the stringent application of the Precautionary Principle which stipulates that if perfect certainty of no harm cannot be guaranteed, then it's justifiable to reject the innovation.

With this, future improvements and policies in food security will depend on the use or adoption of innovative technologies, depending on government approval.