Over and over again, opponents of genetic engineering have argued that this technology has not delivered on its promise. Genetically modified crops, they say, have not yielded the benefits that proponents have so loudly touted. Particularly in Europe, there is considerable skepticism about modified seeds and products; the narrative that genetically modified crops have failed is all too common.

The cultivation of these crops is banned in most European countries. At the EU level, many people are fighting to keep that ban in place. Governments claim to represent public opinion in their opposition to genetic engineering, blocking any attempts to ease the strict laws that are currently in place.

Away from the spotlight, however, in the back rooms of Brussels, the political reality is a bit more complicated. In early January, the EU Commission approved the import of eight genetically modified plants into the EU. This makes a total of 79 plants that can be imported despite being genetically modified. The focus is on cotton, maize, rapeseed, soy and sugar beets. These plants have been made resistant to herbicides or insects, and are produced in countries that permit the cultivation of genetically modified varieties.

In Europe, these products are used as feed or as components in food production. Apparently, such imports are indispensable. And it appears that the producing countries are relying largely on genetically modified varieties, in contrast to what opponents of genetic engineering are saying. In the future, Europe will no doubt be importing more genetically modified rapeseed, soy and maize – simply because more and more cultivable areas in the major agricultural countries are being used for these crops. Today more than a quarter of the world’s maize is genetically modified.

Many advantages for farmers
A comprehensive meta-study conducted in 2018 explains why this is the case. It concludes that genetically modified maize, in particular, is a success story, with average yields about 10 percent higher than those of conventional varieties. The reason: much less infestation with pests. Genetically modified maize also contains about one-third fewer plant-specific toxins, such as mycotoxins. What’s more, the research reviewed in this meta-study showed no significant effects on either humans or the environment.

Because of the researchers’ high standards for the studies they reviewed, it was impossible to draw significant conclusions about the reciprocal effects of pesticide use. The data were too sparse to support such conclusions. According to the authors, it is unclear whether cultivating genetically modified maize makes it possible to reduce the use of pesticides.

However, an earlier meta-analysis of 147 studies from a variety of countries concluded that pesticide use could in fact be dramatically reduced when growing genetically modified crops – by 37 percent overall, and by as much as 43 percent in the case of insect-resistant varieties. That study, which was conducted by agronomists in Göttingen and looked at genetically modified maize as well as other crops, also reported a significant increase in yields. Moreover, the use of genetically modified seeds has been shown to increase farmers’ incomes – despite the higher prices of the new seeds.

Making the most of scarce land
It is not only producers who benefit from increased yields. Higher yields are also essential for feeding a growing global population, while conserving resources. The usual approaches to genetic engineering focus strongly on controlling pests and minimizing environmental factors that reduce yields.

The current defensive approach might soon be coupled with an offensive approach. As a study published in 2019 revealed, improved growth might also increase maize yields. In field experiments, harvest yields increased by 10 percent when a gene that controls plant growth was modified. This was true whether or not growth conditions were optimal. These are gratifying findings, given the increasing demand for agricultural land and the challenges of climate change.

European policymakers, too, should finally acknowledge reality. The benefits of genetic engineering are clear. It is time for genetically modified plants to find their way to Europe’s fields and dinner tables, and not only to feed troughs.