Agricultural GMOs—What We Know and Where Scientists Disagree

David Zilberman, Tim G. Holland and Itai Trilnick
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Tim G. Holland: Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
Itai Trilnick: Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Population growth, climate change, and increasing human impact on land and aquatic systems all pose significant challenges for current agricultural practices. Genetic engineering is a tool to speed up breeding for new varieties, which can help farmers and agricultural systems adapt to rapidly changing physical growing conditions, technology, and global markets. We review the current scientific literature and present the potential of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from the perspectives of various stakeholders. GMOs increase yields, lower costs, and reduce the land and environmental footprint of agriculture. The benefits of this technology are shared among innovators, farmers, and consumers. Developing countries and poor farmers gain substantially from GMOs. Agricultural biotechnology is diverse, with many applications having different potential impacts. Its regulation needs to balance benefits and risks for each application. Excessive precaution prevents significant benefits. Increasing access to the technology and avoidance of excessive regulation will allow it to reach its potential.

Keywords: genetic engineering; biotechnology; intellectual property; sustainability; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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