Below are a few key findings from the study that compared the crop yields between the United States and Europe where genetically modified technology is banned.

Genetically modified (GM) crops are plants in which DNA has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally through plant breeding. Genetic engineering transfers selected individual genes within or across plant species to produce plants with targeted characteristics.

Some have questioned whether GM crops have been responsible for increased crop yields. Comparing US yields to European Union yields (where GM crops are banned) provides evidence that GM technologies have increased crop yields. Agricultural yields have increased over the past several decades. But, such increases are not fait accompli. Rather, they result from the development of new technologies.

A few Key Points:

  • The US has allowed genetically modified (GM) technologies to be used since 1996, while the European Union has banned their use. Over 90 percent of US corn and soybean acreage is planted to a GM variety.
  • US corn and soybean crop yields have increased more than European crop yields since the adoption of GM technologies.
  • The trade-offs associated with banning GM technologies involve lower worldwide food output, higher unit production costs, higher food prices, increased input usage, and especially for the world’s poorest citizens, more food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition.

Read the full article about genetically modified crop technology by Gary Brester at AEI.