On balance, the development of GMO technology is a good thing

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.

The data continues to provide strong evidence that GMO technology leads to increased crop yields.

An analysis of more than 6,000 peer-reviewed studies found that GMO corn increased crop yields by 22% while significantly decreasing dangerous contaminants. This meta-study analyzed data from 1996 through 2016.

A meta-analysis from multiple sources found that GMO technology increased crop yields by 22% while also increasing farmer profits by 68%.

Genetic modifications on crops can reduce the need for pesticide use. Several studies show positive impacts on the environment as a result.

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.

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.

Genetic modifications can help to improve the nutritional value of crops in order to target vitamin deficiencies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.