Preamble:
GMO technology is a method of genetic engineering, most famously known for its impact on crops. The benefits of GMO technology are plentiful, including greater crop yields, positive environmental impacts, improved nutritional value, increased food security, and the potential for the development of new products. Developments in this technology are likely to yield many more benefits, in addition to the improvements that we are seeing today.
1. Greater Crop Yields:
The data continues to provide strong evidence that GMO technology leads to increased crop yields.
Corn Meta-Study
Literature Meta-Study
2. Positive Impacts on the Environment
Genetic modifications on crops can reduce the need for pesticide use. Several studies show positive impacts on the environment as a result.
Study on Pesticide Use and Carbon Emissions
A
study on GMO environmental impacts found that GMO technology led to reduced both pesticide use and greenhouse gas emissions. The environmental benefits were found to be equivalent to removing 16.7 million cars from the road.
Study on GMO Technology Over 24-Year Period
Another
study found that GMOs have reduced pesticide application by 7.2% and decreased the associated negative environmental impact by an even greater 17.3%. This study focused on data over a 24-year period from 1996 through 2020.
3. Improved Nutritional Value
Genetic modifications can help to improve the nutritional value of crops in order to target vitamin deficiencies.
Biofortification
GMO technology can
increase nutrient levels in crops to combat global vitamin deficiencies. Deficiencies of vitamin A, for example, have led to hundreds of thousands of cases of irreversible blindness and millions of deaths. A
study analyzing the presence of β-carotene in Golden Rice found that it serves an effective source of vitamin A.
4. Increased Food Security
Study on GMOs and Food Security
One
study controlling for other factors found that the adoption of GMO technology improved dietary quality and calorie consumption while also reducing food insecurity by 15-20% in households producing cotton.
Study on GMO Effects on Food Security and Political Conflicts
Another
study found that GMOs can help to build a more secure food supply chain and improve food security as a result. Food conflict can also lead to political strife, and GMOs can help to reduce political conflict as a result. GMOs also help farmers in developing countries to achieve self-sufficiency.
5. Potential for New Products
GMO technology is likely to lead to even better developments in the future. Already, we can start to see more industries beginning to benefit from the use of GMO technology.
Pharmaceuticals
Many pharmaceuticals
rely on GMO cells. Cancer drugs and Humulin, for example, rely on biotechnology and genetic modification. We are therefore likely to see more benefits in medicine and healthcare as GMO technology continues to improve.
Biofuels
Biotechnology can
help with the production of biofuel as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. One new technique can even increase ethanol production by 80%. New technological developments in GMOs are likely to lead to benefits in all of these industries.
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