Taking a fresh look at the positives and negatives of genetically modified crops

[T]he vast majority of GMOs grown in the U.S. are “engineered to produce their own pesticides, or survive direct application of pesticides,” said As You Sow. In making crops more genetically resistant to pests, fewer pesticides are required to cultivate the crops. Specifically, “about 90% of corn, soybeans and cotton in the U.S. is genetically engineered to be herbicide-resistant. … [S]everal other foods have been modified to be healthier and more accessible.

Growing GMOs can lower costs in several ways. Climate change, overfarming and population growth have all caused crop yields to decrease. Genetic engineering can “improve crop yields and help farmers grow food in drought regions or on depleted soil, thereby lowering food prices and feeding more people,” said Britannica. In addition, “GMO crops, through their environmental sustainability, potential for nutritionally-fortified foods and increased productivity, actually play a key role in keeping the cost of food down, now and in the future,” said Forbes

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