Genetic Engineering Fails to Significantly Boost Crop Yields

Interesting article, many things to consider. I too am skeptical of UCS publications, just like everyone should be of any "study" designed to persuade.

One fact left out that would have explained increased crop yields (for corn anyway), is that the true advancement in yield per acre came from the development of varieties that are able to be planted more densely than ever before, and still have high yields. Whether or not this advancement came through traditional breeding or GM I do no know. Furthermore, were these densely planted varieties also GM for herbicide resitance or anything else?

I don't know the answers, but hopefully UCS considered all the information at their disposal, not just the friendly studies.

I agree with Foodchoices. This whole GM food thing has nothing to do with "the good of the People"and feeding us. It has everything to do with GREED thru Control of the food supply,thru our seeds. The end of treasured seeds that have been passed on from generation to generation.Policing farmers and their seeds. Having to buy GM seeds, from "drug companies" cause we CAN'T make our own anymore because they've been cross polinated with GM seeds.Which will starve peoples of other countries because there seeds have been rendered useless,seeds they've passed down thru famlies, gone. Forced to buy,most likley at High prices,GM seeds. EVERYONE should read up on "Monsanto" Then see what you think about this big big mess we are unwillingly getting sucked into. GREED once again,still, rearing its ugly head.$$$$$$$ is what it's all about, and we can't do anything about it.I'm stiil amazed at how fast we humans have ruined this earth in 200 years.I could go on but you get the picture. I urge everyone to check this out furthur,Esp. "Monsanto"

Monsanto is one of the primary reasons I began an organic Victory Garden. Fish genes in corn -- Ugh! Just say "No Thanks" to Frankenfoods. I don't think the world population explosion can be solved by growing more food. The real solution is BIRTH CONTROL. Birth control for free for every women that wants it. And we can't grow more food without more clean, potable water. Worldwide droughts are showing us that the real danger is not having enough clean, potable water. What are we (America) doing about that? Afterall, most of us can go for a while without food, but none of us can survive more than 3 days without clean, potable water.

Genetically modified food is a hoax,orchestrated for investment banker companies like Monsanto and the corporations to take hold of the food industry and what we eat. As many of the population who regularly eat 'junk' and fast food from mainstream outlets bear witness to, gm creates obesity, loss of equilibrium, fatigue and a weaker immune system. Monsanto's aim is to buy out all seed companys, and have every thing we eat genetically modified. This would be the equivalent of turning us all into zombified electro-controlled magnets that can be controlled emotionally and physically. In other words the idea of gm is to create a living hell. The wider population of non-investment bankers and globalisers should be concentrating on growing their own fresh food and keeping seeds as natural and original to nature as possible. The lie that Monsanto can produce more yield with their gm seeds is ludicrous. If Monsanto and the 'World Health Organisation' wanted to end hunger, they would remove free trade that keeps restrictions on trade embargo from Africa,making the prices lower on export, and none of the farmers' able to keep themselves. Say no to GM.

Genetically modified food is a hoax,orchestrated for investment banker companies like Monsanto and the corporations to take hold of the food industry and what we eat. As many of the population who regularly eat 'junk' and fast food from mainstream outlets bear witness to, gm creates obesity, loss of equilibrium, fatigue and a weaker immune system. Monsanto's aim is to buy out all seed companys, and have every thing we eat genetically modified. This would be the equivalent of turning us all into zombified electro-controlled magnets that can be controlled emotionally and physically. In other words the idea of gm is to create a living hell. The wider population of non-investment bankers and globalisers should be concentrating on growing their own fresh food and keeping seeds as natural and original to nature as possible. The lie that Monsanto can produce more yield with their gm seeds is ludicrous. If Monsanto and the 'World Health Organisation' wanted to end hunger, they would remove free trade that keeps restrictions on trade embargo from Africa,making the prices lower on export, and none of the farmers' able to keep themselves. Say no to GM.

Sorry, I don't believe anything that UCS prints. While I have no love for the stuff that Ag companies are pushing on us, I don't have any love for the the politics that UCS pushes on us, either.

Excuse me! There was mix up in the url's in my previous post. It should be

New York Times report here:
http://tinyurl.com/q5ldm

Another report: The dull days of White Gold
http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/apr/psa-whitegold.htm

Thank you for this article! I had just written about Monsanto's advertising tactics, "Monsanto:wooing the public",in my blog http://foodchoices.wordpress.com

Official reports by State Governments on the performance of GM Cotton in India can be accessed at http://www.indiagminfo.org/under "official study-RTI documents".
The spate of suicides among cotton farmers have also been attributed to Monsanto- Government nexus.
New York Times report here:
http://tinyurl.com/q5ldm

http://www.indiatogether.org/2009/apr/psa-whitegold.htm

I would agree that there has not been an impact on yield directly. What there needs to be a study on is how the use of Roundup Ready corn has affected the farming practices and how that has impacted the land. As a kid growing up on a farm and a part time farmer now I see a vast difference in how the land is used and the impact that these technologies have on methods of farming. It used to be during the winters we would have dust storms because during the previous summer they would have cultivated the corn and there was no residue to keep it from blowing later. Now by using different practices the land doesn't blow saving top soil and in turn making the land more productive in a long run.

As for Bt corn they should see the difference in pesticide application and if there was an impact to how much was applied per acre before and after Bt was made available.