What causes GM crops to grow faster and last longer? Are they healthy?

Expert response from Community Manager

Moderator for GMOAnswers.com

Monday, 28/03/2016 15:53

Thank you for your questions. This response from sixth generation farmer, Lawson Mozley, discusses your first question:

"Though many crops that farmers grow today grow faster than those that our ancestors grew, this is not due to genetic engineering or transgenic crops. Transgenic crops that have so far been released grow at the same rate as any other variety developed within a similar timeframe. While there are differences in growth rate, even within very similar genetic lines, this is entirely natural in its occurrence. Plant breeders have been breeding more quickly maturing lines of corn, cotton, soybeans, peanuts and many fruit and vegetable varieties for years, long before even genetic mapping technology existed, much less the capability to manipulate genes." 

To answer your second question, GM crops are as healthy as their non-GM counterparts. In this response, registered dietician, Connie Diekman, explains:

…the Food and Drug Administration has set forth guidelines related to the use of GMOs, and in those documents they reference the science that indicates food developed through biotechnology are digested in the same manner as other foods and therefore provide the same nutrition, or in some cases more nutrition (if the goal of the biotechnology was to enhance nutrient content). The science also indicates that these foods are safe for consumption and that they are not contributors to increased allergies.

As Mary Mertz, who also farms GM crops, points out in this response: every reputable leading health organization recognizes GM crops “to be as safe and nutritious as foods produced in any other way.” 

You can find more information about GM foods and health in similar responses here, here and here.

If you have any additional questions, please ask!