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Video: GMO Soybeans & Sustainability
Producing stable food yields for a growing world population is a major
challenge for agriculture. Soil erosion, water shortages, climate change and
shrinking farmland pose serious threats to essential resources, while human
needs continue to grow. But what is the concept behind sustainability and
can GM crops (e.g. herbicide tolerant soybeans) help us move towards a
sustainable form of agriculture?
Research News
GRACE rejects Testbiotech's criticisms of GMO feeding study
(13 Nov 2014) 90-day feeding study with genetically modified MON810
maize does not reveal adverse effects in laboratory animals.
 Press Release
Meta-analysis shows: Less pesticides, increased yields and
profits
(5 Nov 2014) The average agronomic and economic benefits of GM
crops are large and significant. This demonstrates the meta-analysis carried
out by Wilhelm Klümper and Matin Qaim from the University of Goettingen in
Germany. A meta-analysis is a statistical technique for combining the
findings from independent studies. In this case the researchers analysed 147
original studies on the agronomic and economic impact of agricultural
biotechnology worldwide. The overall conclusions are, that the adoption of GM
crops
- reduced chemical use by 37%
- increased crop yields by 22%
- increased farmer profits by 68%.
Study
European top scientists are advocating for GM crops
(30 Oct 2014) More than twenty of Europe's most
prominent plant scientists signed a joint letter warning that Europe will never
meet agricultural targets unless it starts allowing GM crops.
Europe’s leading plant scientists call for urgent action to defend research, Press Release from Umeå University (30 Oct 2014)
EU research project GRACE publishes first study findings
(15 Oct 2014)
The
GRACE research project was asked by the European Commission to test various
methods for identify the medium- and long-term health impacts of eating GM
crops. In 90-day feeding trials two GM maize MON 810 varieties tested did
not trigger any negative effects in the trial animals.
Article
Golden Rice: Delayed approval has serious consequences
(4 Mar 2014) More than 2 50,000 children go blind every year because
of Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A intake can be enhanced by consuming Golden
Rice — a genetically engineered variety of rice. It was available for
commercialization in 2002, but approval has been delayed. A study estimates that
this delay has resulted in 600,000 to 1.2 million additional cases of blindness.
The Cost of Delaying Approval of Golden Rice
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Report:
GM crops continue to boost productivity and farm incomes worldwide
28 May 2014
During the last 17
years, the adoption of GMO technology has resulted in significant socio-economic
benefits and advantages for farmers in developing and developed countries. The
income and productivity gains stem predominantly from the fact that GM crops
have enabled farmers to switch to more sustainable farming practices. This is
one of the results of the ninth annual report from PG Economics, the UK-based
agricultural economists, entitled GM Crops: global socio-economic and
environmental impacts 1996-2012. |
Read
the complete article
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Report:
Importing GM soybeans or expanding European
cultivation of grain legumes: which is more sustainable?
27 May 2014
The European Union’s high dependence on soy imports as a
source of animal protein feed is facing increasing resistance. One aspect of the
criticism levelled against soy imports is the negative public attitude towards
GM soy beans and meal, which make up over 90 per cent of imported soy. In
current political debates there are therefore calls to replace GM soy imports by
expanding European cultivation of grain legumes. According to calculations by
OVID, the German oil seed processors’ association, this would have disastrous
effects: the EU would produce less wheat and take up more agricultural land
outside of the EU in order to meet its demands. |
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the complete article
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German Bundestag votes for national self-determination on GMO cultivation
22 May 2014
The German Bundestag is
calling for self-determination of Member States in relation to the cultivation
of genetically modified plants. On 21 May, it asked the German government to
“create legal options for national opt-outs”. Germany will therefore speak out
in favour of national cultivation bans at the meeting of the EU Council of
Ministers scheduled for June. This will remove the blocking minority at EU level
that has so far prevented the adoption of an opt-out clause. |
Read
the complete article
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The Queen of Beans
26 September 2013
With the growth in
global demand for soybeans comes an increasing need for responsible soy
production. Laura Foell, a director of the United Soybean Board, has been
farming soybeans for more than two decades. In her experience, transgenic crops
are an important tool for making soybean production more sustainable. |
Read
the complete article
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Peer Review – Where you thought it ended? That’s just the beginning!
22 July 2013
A Guest Article by Dr.
L. Val Giddings, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation |
“This is a peer-reviewed study!”
In the increasingly heated battles waged lately by crusaders against
innovation in agriculture, such assertions are increasingly thrown down like
a gauntlet. The intent is to negate findings by regulators and scientists
around the world that crops and foods improved through biotechnology are
safe. These advocates argue passionately that “paper X”, published in a
scientific journal after being reviewed by anonymous scientists and an
editor, is sufficient to overturn the findings of hundreds of previously
published reports to say nothing of the vast experience accumulated through
the consumption of trillions of meals derived from biotech improved crops
since they first entered the marketplace in the mid 1990s. When these papers
are criticized by scientists post-publication, cries of censorship and
persecution inevitably arise, and are routinely coupled with claims that the
critics are bought and paid for by vested corporate interests. But the
noisemakers overlook something fundamental about the culture of science:
where they thought peer review ended -is really where it gets going ...
Read
the complete article
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Africa’s path to self-sufficiency
5 July 2013
Africa is facing huge challenges through population growth,
land-scarcity and climate change. But instead of relying on outside
help, African countries are increasingly focusing on their own
strengths.
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An important aspect of this development is the focus on the research and cultivation of genetically-modified crops. Many African countries see these crops as an opportunity to deal with domestic pests, diseases and drought, and as an opportunity to increase the agricultural output significantly. Therefore, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and other countries in Africa are investing in biotechnology to find creative solutions for future challenges.
More information
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Without GM crops European agriculture will not
achieve sustainability goals
30 April 2013 |
The European Union cannot meet its goals in agricultural
policy without genetically engineered crops (GMOs). That's
the conclusion of UK and Spanish scientists who published in
Trends in Plant Science. Based on several case studies the
report shows that the EU is undermining its own
competitiveness in the agricultural sector as well as that
of its humanitarian activities in the developing world.
Although agricultural sustainability is a key program of the
common agricultural policy (CAP) the current strategies in
fact hamper the development of key technologies to achieve
those objectives. As a consequence, European agriculture
will become almost entirely dependent on the outside world
for food and feed and scientific progress.
Report
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