GM crop produces lower yield, says scientist

Posted: Thursday, Jul 09, 2009 at 0022 hrs IST
Updated: Thursday, Jul 09, 2009 at 0022 hrs IST

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: While there has been debate about safety and efficacy of the genetically modified (GM) products across the globe, a British scientist on Wednesday raised questions about the GM crops ability to increase yield.

The scientist said that it has been proven that the genetically modified crops produce lower yields as compared to the conventional crops.

“GM transformation can interfere with crop performance and hence reduce yield. GM soyabean have given consistently lower yields for more than a decade and field trails show that GM soya has 10% lower yield potential with 50% drop due to genetic disruption.” Michael Antoniou, molecular geneticist with King’s College, London said. He said field trails of Bt insecticides producing maize hybrid showed that they took longer to reach maturity and produced up to 12% lower yields. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the national workshop on GM crops & health implications, organised by Centre for Sustainable Agriculture here.

On the impact of GM crops on the animals, Antoniou said when conversion efficiency in animals is concerned; an unofficial data shows that in Germany, the efficiency with which feed converted into meat was greater with non-GM feed than GM feed. “Extensive laboratory animal feeding studies with GM food raise worrying health concerns,” he said. In India only BT cotton has been granted permission for commercial use while BT brinjal is at the advanced stage of field trial. While GM seeds manufacturing company like Mosanto claims that due to introduction of GM cotton, the production has increased significantly in the country while anti-GM crop lobby says health impact of the GM food is yet to be extensively studied.

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