Genetically engineered crops get half a thumbs-up

Genetically engineered (GE) crops present no more risk to human health than conventional crops, the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (USDA) said in a new report.

The 388-page report, released on Tuesday, is based on the analysis of more than 1 000 studies on the use and effects of GM crops since the technology emerged in the 1980s.

It said there is “some evidence” that GE insect-resistant crops have the benefit of reducing “insecticide poisonings and decreasing exposure to fumonisins [mycotoxins]”.

Maize, cotton, potatoes and wheat are among many crops grown in the US that are being genetically modified.

The authors accepted that the design and analysis of many animalfeeding studies were not optimal, but said “the large number of experimental studies provided reasonable evidence that animals were not harmed by eating food derived from GE crops”.

They pointed out that the evolution of resistance in insects and weeds caused by growing GE crops has become “a major agronomic problem”. The scientists said this negative effect can be avoided by better management of farmland.

The science advisory board also acknowledged in its report that it is unclear whether the GE technology has increased crop yields, as many scientists and industry specialists have claimed.

“There is disagreement among researchers about how much GE traits can increase yields compared with conventional breeding,” the report said.

“Although the sum of experimental evidence indicates that GE traits are contributing to actual yield increases, there is no evidence from USDA data that they have substantially increased the rate at which US agriculture is increasing yields.”

The authors recommended that “new varieties, whether genetically engineered or conventionally bred, be subjected to safety testing if they have novel, intended or unintended characteristics with potential hazards”.

Although providing a detailed map of the research on GE crops in the past two decades, the report avoided the controversial issue of whether GE food should be labelled.

Some people believe they can lead to health problems and harm the environment and they have pushed for mandatory labelling, though the federal government and many scientists have long been saying that the technology is safe.

The report’s authors said labels are not needed for food safety reasons, but could be used for transparency.