Superweeds? Suicides? Stealthy genes? The true, the false and the still unknown about transgenic crops
In the pitched debate over genetically modified (GM) foods and crops, it can be hard to see where scientific evidence ends and dogma and speculation begin. In the nearly 20 years since they were first commercialized, GM crop technologies have seen dramatic uptake. Advocates say that they have increased agricultural production by more than US$98 billion and saved an estimated 473 million kilograms of pesticides from being sprayed. But critics question their environmental, social and economic impacts.
Researchers, farmers, activists and GM seed companies all stridently promote their views, but the scientific data are often inconclusive or contradictory. Complicated truths have long been obscured by the fierce rhetoric. “I find it frustrating that the debate has not moved on,” says Dominic Glover, an agricultural socioeconomist at Wageningen University and Research Center in the Netherlands. “The two sides speak different languages and have different opinions on what evidence and issues matter,” he says.
Here, Nature takes a look at three pressing questions: are GM crops fuelling the rise of herbicide-resistant ‘superweeds’? Are they driving farmers in India to suicide? And are the foreign transgenes in GM crops spreading into other plants? These controversial case studies show how blame shifts, myths are spread and cultural insensitivities can inflame debate.
GM crops have bred superweeds: True
Jay Holder, a farming consultant in Ashburn, Georgia, first noticed Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in a client’s transgenic cotton fields about five years ago. Palmer amaranth is a particular pain for farmers in the southeastern United States, where it outcompetes cotton for moisture, light and soil nutrients and can quickly take over fields.
Since the late 1990s, US farmers had widely adopted GM cotton engineered to tolerate the herbicide glyphosate, which is marketed as Roundup by Monsanto in St Louis, Missouri. The herbicide–crop combination worked spectacularly well — until it didn’t. In 2004, herbicide-resistant amaranth was found in one county in Georgia; by 2011, it had spread to 76. “It got to the point where some farmers were losing half their cotton fields to the weed,” says Holder.
Some scientists and anti-GM groups warned that GM crops, by encouraging liberal use of glyphosate, were spurring the evolution of herbicide resistance in many weeds. Twenty-four glyphosate-resistant weed species have been identified since Roundup-tolerant crops were introduced in 1996. But herbicide resistance is a problem for farmers regardless of whether they plant GM crops.
The Latest Bing News on:
Genetically Modified Crops
- Stopping GMO crops may cause ‘more harm than good’ – scientistson April 26, 2024 at 2:37 pm
A recent court decision halting the production of the genetically modified crops Golden Rice and Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant may impact on the country’s food security and may cause ...
- EDITORIAL — Banning GMOson April 26, 2024 at 9:00 am
Agricultural scientists have been genetically engineering plants for decades, to increase yield, make crops resistant to certain pests or boost certain desirable characteristics. In the 1960s, the ...
- Genetically modified mice reveal key players in immune defense against viruseson April 25, 2024 at 11:00 pm
Chemokines are signaling proteins that orchestrate the interaction of immune cells against pathogens and tumors.
- Greenpeace Crusade Will Blind and Kill Childrenon April 25, 2024 at 1:30 pm
The World Health Organization estimates that 250,000–500,000 children who are vitamin A–deficient become blind every year, and half of them die within 12 months of losing their sight. In addition, ...
- Philippine court blocks genetically modified golden rice production over safety fearson April 25, 2024 at 11:53 am
"This decision is a monumental win for Filipino farmers and Filipino people who have for decades stood up against genetically modified crops," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Wilhelmina Pelegrina ...
- CA ruling vs Bt eggplant, golden rice propagation hiton April 25, 2024 at 9:00 am
The judiciary should not overstep its authority on genetically modified organisms or GMOs as regulations on biotechnology must be left to scientists and pertinent regulators, according to a member of ...
- What could EU changes around genetically modified crops mean for Ireland?on April 25, 2024 at 8:11 am
New legislation will allow for the increased use of new genomic techniques in plant research and crop development ...
- Philippine court blocks GMO 'golden rice' production over safety fearson April 25, 2024 at 12:50 am
A Philippine court has blocked the commercial propagation of genetically modified golden rice because it said conflicting scientific views gave rise to "severe" health and environmental safety ...
- Parliament reinforces support for GMO deregulationon April 24, 2024 at 8:56 am
Backers of a new generation of genetically modified crops have urged governments to support the new technology after the EUropean Parliament restated its support. View on euronews ...
- CA stops commercial growing of GMO cropson April 23, 2024 at 10:55 pm
The Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a cease-and-desist order on the commercial propagation of two genetically modified crops—Golden Rice and Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Genetically Modified Crops
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Genetically Modified Crops” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Herbicide resistance
- 20 Common Types of Weeds That Grow in Your Garden and How to Treat Themon April 26, 2024 at 11:36 am
Weeds—we can't live with them and, unfortunately, we can't live without them. But what we can do is find a way to control them. It all starts with understanding their biology and habits. By learning ...
- Time to ponder peanut pests in North Carolinaon April 26, 2024 at 5:24 am
NCSU Extension Peanut Specialist David Jordan said peanut farmers should pay attention to field drainage levels as well as timing of planting.
- Women weave a culture of resistance and agroecology in Ecuador’s Intag Valleyon April 25, 2024 at 1:06 pm
In Ecuador’s lush tropical Andes, Silvia Vetancourt multitasks, her hands maneuvering crochet needles with swift precision as she navigates the rocky path to the old town of Plaza Gutierrez. “We like ...
- Early weed control vital to crop and land management successon April 23, 2024 at 9:29 am
WSSA President Greg Dahl urges farmers and land managers to prioritize weed control early to optimize outcomes.
- Judge rejects key expert in paraquat lawsuits, tosses first cases set for trialon April 17, 2024 at 2:52 pm
A key expert witness in lawsuits claiming that Syngenta's herbicide paraquat causes Parkinson's disease cannot testify in court, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, dismissing the first four cases over ...
- New herbicides bring additional tools to California rice weed management in 2024on April 17, 2024 at 2:39 pm
This year brings several new chemical tools to California rice. With many herbicide-resistant species as well as emerging problematic weed species, the new chemistries are a welcome tool for managing ...
- Making crops colorful for easier weeding by robotson April 17, 2024 at 8:00 am
To make weeding easier, scientists suggest bioengineering crops to be colorful or to have differently shaped leaves so that they can be more easily distinguished from their wild and weedy counterparts ...
- BREAKING: Israel’s Greeneye Technology raises $20m to expand precision-spray tech across the USon April 17, 2024 at 4:00 am
Greeneye will expand its precision-spraying technology across the US markets in addition to introducing new capabilities to its system.
- Herbicide-Resistant Weeds Call for Proactive Solutionson April 16, 2024 at 3:06 am
Glyphosate-resistant marestail is just one of many weeds highlighting the need for proactive weed management and neighbor cooperation to minimize drift risks.
- High-tech Dayton startups ignite innovation in ERS, agriculture and aerospaceon April 15, 2024 at 7:54 am
In Dayton, Ohio, the Entrepreneurs' Center (EC) is an entrepreneurial leader offering support and guidance for startups eager to make their mark. Among these, three companies embody the spirit of ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Herbicide resistance
[google_news title=”” keyword=”herbicide resistance” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]