Experts debunk claim on environmental damage brought on by GMO, explains why GMO crops are the more sustainable option
Sebastian Montemayor | August 05, 2024
Dr. Franz Garcia, an associate professor at the Central Luzon State University specializing in agricultural research has debunked common misconception about the negative environmental impact of GMO crops.
“People think when we plant GM crops, we might cause damage to the environment, but what isn’t considered is when we cutdown trees, when we use pesticides and other chemicals, these directly cause environmental damage,”
She added that GMO crops are actually geared towards sustainable farming since they use less resources, and contribute less harm both to humans and the environment. Dr. Garcia explained that while staple food crops like rice and potato need a lot of land, high yield rice varieties, while not specifically a GMO, are developed using modern genetic engineering, and require less land to feed the same amount of people as traditional varieties.
She added that the use of pesticides, linked to various cancers in humans, can absorb into soil and leak into water sources, causing long term damage to surrounding plants and animals. The very first GM crop approved for use in Asia, is made to be resistant to the Asiatic Corn Borer, it’s primary pest. This resistance means farmers can drastically reduce their pesticide use, not needing it to keep the crop healthy. “The problems of farmers also evolve and change, pests and disease, and even the environment. With biotechnology, we can provide immediate solutions to emerging problems,” she concluded.
