UCS Report Claims Promise of GE Higher Yields Proves Empty

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has produced a report concluding that despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetically engineered (GE) corn and soybean crops have not increased yields compared to other agriculture technologies.

Released in March 2009, the report reviewed two dozen academic studies of corn and soybeans and found that increase in yields for both crops over the last 13 years was largely due to traditional breeding or improvements in agricultural practices. It claims that genetic engineering is unlikely to play a significant role in increasing food production in the foreseeable future and recommends that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state agricultural agencies and universities increase research and development for proven approaches to boost crop yields.

“If we are going to make headway in combating hunger due to overpopulation and climate change, we will need to increase crop yields,” the report’s author, Gurian Sherman, was quoted as saying on the UCS website. “Traditional breeding outperforms genetic engineering hands down.”