Question

1. How might GM crops affect the environment?

Answer 1

1. Ans: Have GM crops caused damage to the environment? Crops do not damage the environment simply because they are GM. Some farming practices, such as the overuse of herbicides resulting in the excessive eradication of wild plants from farmland have been shown to harm the environment.
2. Ans: In their conclusion, the authors stated that 21 years of field data analysis revealed GMO corn offers farmers increased grain yields, improved grain quality, and a decrease in insect damage. They also note modest or no effect on numbers of non-target insects.
3. Ans: A few highlights from this comprehensive review are: Crop biotechnology has contributed to significantly reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices. This results from less fuel use and additional soil carbon storage from reduced tillage with GM crops.
4. Ans: A major environmental concern associated with GM crops is their potential to create new weeds through out-crossing with wild relatives, or simply by persisting in the wild themselves. The potential for the above to happen is assessed prior to introduction, and is monitored after the crop is planted as well.