Genetically Modified Crops

The Many Benefits of GM Crops

Benefits of GM Crops

GM crops have become an essential solution to help farmers around the world grow food more sustainably. And the many benefits of Genetically Modified (GM) crops can be seen well beyond the farm as well, from helping to conserve natural resources to fighting climate change. Read on to find out how GM innovations are driving new opportunities for farms, communities and our planet.   

Rainforest
Farmer Holding Device

Farmers must overcome many hurdles each season to bring their crops to harvest. GM crop technology helps them to address these issues they face on their farms—and then some. 

Soy field
Addressing climate change

GM crop technology enables farmers to adopt more sustainable agriculture practices. This includes innovations like no-till farming, which pulls carbon out of the atmosphere and stores it in the soil where it supports healthier crops. That’s better for crops and the environment. Additionally, because no-till allows farmers to make fewer passes through the field using machinery, they also reduce their fuel use to curb their carbon emissions. 

15.6 Million
15.6 million

In 2020 alone, GM crops helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to removing 15.6 million cars from the road.

Farmer Farmer with an ear of corn
Keeping crops safe

Damaging insects, invasive weeds and emerging diseases can have a devastating impact on farmers’ crops. To address this, GM innovation provides targeted protection against these specific threats without adversely impacting other organisms or the environment. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, because GM plants are better able to protect themselves, they require less pesticide. That helps farmers save time, fuel and money that they can invest back into their operations.

Insect-resistant GM corn
90% less

Insect-resistant GM corn has helped U.S. farmers reduce pesticide use by 90% since 1996.

River
Conserving natural resources

GM crops are helping farmers around the world accomplish more with less. That’s because these innovations are specifically developed to use precious natural resources like land and water more efficiently. By enabling farmers to meet the increasing global demand for food on their existing farms, GM crops are enabling them to preserve rainforests, prairies and other natural habitats.

In 2020, GM crops enabled farmers to protect 23.4 million hectares of natural habitat
23.4 million hectares

In 2020, GM crops enabled farmers to protect 23.4 million hectares of natural habitat. That’s an area the size of Vietnam and The Philippines combined.

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