Genetic Modification Reduces Crop Yields

Friday, September 18, 2009

Contrary to repeated claims that turning to genetically modified crops will be necessary to solve the world’s growing food crisis, a major study conducted at the University of Kansas has found that the controversial technology actually reduces crop yields.

Though the study has received little attention in the U.S. media, The Independent of London reports that University's researchers found that genetically modified soya produces about 10% less food than its conventional equivalent.

According to The Independent:

Professor Barney Gordon, of the University's Department of Agronomy, said he started the research – reported in the journal Better Crops – because many farmers who had changed over to the GM crop had "noticed that yields are not as high as expected even under optimal conditions". He added: "People were asking the question 'how come I don't get as high a yield as I used to?'"

The results of the University of Kansas study supports previous findings. Earlier research at the University of Nebraska found that a GM soya produced 6% less than its closest conventional relative, and 11% less than the best non-GM soya available. The total U.S. cotton crop declined even as GM technology took over.