Is the GMO crop boom over?

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Behind a wave of multibillion-dollar mergers in the agriculture business is a moment of change in American farming. The dominance of genetically modified crops is under threat.

Since their introduction to U.S. farms 20 years ago, genetically engineered seeds have become… multifunctional and ubiquitous… The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates this year that 94% of soybean acres were planted with biotech varieties, and 92% of corn acres.

Today, farmers are finding it harder to justify the high … prices for… GMO, seed, given the measly returns of the current farm economy. Spending on crop seeds has nearly quadrupled since 1996… Yet major crop prices have skidded lower…, and this year, many farmers stand to lose money.

Biotech farming has also shown limitations, given how certain weeds are evolving to resist sprays… Some are starting to seek out old-fashioned seed, citing diminished returns from biotech…

. . . .

Those pressures have touched off a frenzy of deal making among the world’s top seed and pesticide suppliers…

Agrochemical groups are aiming to slash costs and build scale in response to the decline in crop prices…

“The crop boom is over,” analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. declared… last year…

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: Behind the Monsanto Deal, Doubts About the GMO Revolution

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