A panel of exports said Tuesday that genetically engineered crops can be profitable for farmers. The report also indicated that crops genetically engineered may also be able to protect people as well as the environment from overloads in pesticide use.
However, the researchers indicated that risks are growing that weeds are developing increased resistance to Roundup, a popular weedkiller among genetically engineered crop farmers. David Ervin, from Portland State University, who sat on the panel, said that there is hard evidence that weeds are growing more resistant to glyphosate. He added that the issue would require serious attention.
Glyphosate is used as a main ingredient in Roundup herbicide. But since Roudup is considered safer than most weedkillers it is widely used as a pesticide. The expert panel found that farmers can use Roundup more often without fearing damage to their crops, but because of this it means weeds may develop a resistance to the chemical.
So far nine different weed species in the US alone have developed a known resistance to Roundup since genetically engineered crops have been introduced. However, the report found that only seven species of weeds were resistant to glyphosate in areas where genetically modified crops had not yet been introduced.
The report from the Council, an independent National Academies of Science who advise US federal government, states that genetically engineered crops have retained significant benefits however to decreasing production costs and outputting higher yields.
|
|
