Environmental impacts of genetically modified crops. Credit: Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado9340
Genetically modified (GM) crops are widely used around the world, but their environmental impacts need to be better understood.
A recent study published in Science on August 30, 2024 looked at common genetic modifications in four crops: soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Genetically modified crops can increase yields and profits, but they can also require changes to agricultural practices and have unintended environmental effects. For example, farmers may increase their use of pesticides if crops become more resistant to herbicides or pests.
“Increasing land productivity in the form of higher crop yields can improve the overall profitability of farmland and foster agricultural expansion,” explains co-author Eduardo Souza Rodrigues, associate professor and associate dean in the Department of Economics at the University of Toronto Mississauga.
“But increased supply could lower crop prices and reduce conversion of land to agriculture elsewhere. These changes could lead to deforestation, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, with implications for human health and biodiversity.”
“Although there has been progress in understanding the environmental impacts of genetically modified crops, there are still many uncertainties that need to be studied to support appropriate environmentally friendly agricultural practices,” Souza Rodrigues continued.
The study concludes that further research is needed to understand the long-term impacts of GM crops on large-scale agriculture and resistant pests. Collecting more detailed environmental data, especially on wildlife, could help measure the impacts more precisely and support agricultural practices that promote sustainable agriculture.
Further information: Frederik Noack et al., “Environmental Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops,” Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado9340
Provided by University of Toronto
Source: Researchers Explore Environmental Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops (September 24, 2024) Retrieved September 24, 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-09-explore-environmental-impacts-genetically-crops.html
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