What do I want to know if I am doing a research paper on GMOs?

Expert response from Aimee Hood

Regulatory Science Communications Lead, Bayer Crop Science

Friday, 18/03/2016 12:22

As a science communicator, I find that trying to find trusted information on topics like GMOs can be difficult, so I appreciate you asking for our perspective and I wish you luck on your research paper.  There are a lot of resources out there that can help inform you on GMOs.  You can start right here onGMOAnswers.com.  There is a lot of great information in the educational resources section, such as brochures on the safety of GMOs, the environmental benefits of GMOs, and top questions and answers about GMOs.  There are also presentations, infographics and other handouts.  These resources include references to the scientific papers that are the original sources.

 

Next, Professor Wayne Parrott at the University of Georgia maintains a website which provides resources on GM Crops.  His website can be found here:  The GMO Crop (mis)Information Page.  This repository includes literature references, statistics, links to regulatory agency references, news links and more. 

 

Another great massive repository of resources has been compiled by Michael Kovich, a recent college graduate and can be found here:  A Catalog of Information on GMOs, Monsanto, and Related Topics.  He was trying to dispel a myth that there is not comprehensive scientific information available on GMOs.  All forms of content from infographics to videos are included.

 

Lastly, here are some of my favorite resources:

 

1. In 2013, a review by Nicolia et al of more than 1700 peer-reviewed, scientific studies was compiled and published in “An Overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research”.  The authors state:

“We have reviewed the scientific literature on GE crop safety for the last 10 years ……., and we can conclude that the scientific research conducted so far has not detected any significant hazard directly connected with the use of GM crops.”

 

2.      The European Commission funded a project entitled “A Decade of EU-Funded GMO Research (2001 – 2010)”.   From the report, “the main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130 research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research, and involving more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology, and in particular gmos, are not per se more risky than e.g. conventional plant breeding technologies.”

 

3.      The United States National Research Council (NRC) published a 271-page report in 2010 entitled, “Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States”.The report concluded that “many US farmers are realizing substantial economic and environmental benefits, such as lower production cost benefits, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides and better yields compared with conventional crops.” 

 

4.      Included below are several reviews and meta-analysis examples, all of which were independently funded.  You can read about the value of meta-analyses and literature reviews on the Biofortified website.

·         Assessment of the health impact of GM plant diets in long-term and multigenerational animal feeding trials: A literature review

·         A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Bt Crops on Honey Bees

·         A Meta-Analysis of Effects of Bt Cotton and Maize on Nontarget Invertebrates

·         A literature review on the safety assessment of genetically modified plants