An article in the New York Times by Danny Hakim claims to have extensively examined the impacts of GM crops in the USA and Canada and concluded that the technology has not ‘accelerated increases in crop yields’ or reduced use of chemical pesticides’.
The article is, however, far from ‘extensive’, is inaccurate and thoroughly misleading. Let’s look briefly at the two main claims:
The claim that GM crops have not increased yields
There are numerous factors that affect yield such as weather, soil quality, husbandry practices, use of inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides and seeds, knowledge and skills of farmers, price of inputs, effectiveness of existing technology to control pests, diseases and weeds, etc. The genetic capability of seed and its ability to withstand yield reducing effects of pests, diseases and weeds are but two of these factors.
Hakim is making spurious comparisons that lack context and will mislead readers.
The claim that GM technology has not reduced pesticide use
Any discussion about pesticide use in agriculture should provide readers with context. This article provides no such relevant context.
Source: www.geneticliteracyproject.org