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There Is “Little Doubt” About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops

The following are key highlights from a new paper, "There Is 'Little Doubt' About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops," from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) about the promise of GMOs. 

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. Although factors other than GM technologies could be responsible for increasing differences between US and European corn and soybean yields, European wheat yields (for which GM technologies are not commercially available in either region) have continued to increase relative to US wheat yields.
  • 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.

To read the entire paper, please visit the American Enterprise Institute's website