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34 SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2016 SINCE THE ADVENT of genetically modified organisms decades ago the debate about the technology and its risks or lack thereof hasnt ebbed. On one side GMOs are said to hold promise for feeding a bal- looning world population for creating crops that can withstand a changing climate and that can reduce the need for the chemicals and fertilizers widely used on farm fields. The other side questions the safety of GMO crops saying they have never been properly tested. The opponents say the genetic characteristics of GMO crops are more about selling herbicides than saving the world and that were damaging the agricultural economy through cross contamination. We talked to three biotechnology experts about the ques- tions surrounding yield sustainability safety and adventitious presence commonly known as contamination of GMOs. THE EXPERTS Michael Hansen is a senior scientist for Consumers Union the policy and action arm of Consumer Reports. He is an ecologist and biologist with expertise in integrated pest management. Mischa Popoff was a grain farmer from Saskatchewan Canada and is a former U.S. Department of Agriculture contract inspector. He is a speaker columnist and radio host as well as the author of the book Is it Organic Kevin Folta is a professor and chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida where he specializes in the genomics of small fruit crops. He has a podcast called Talking Biotech. Three experts share their perspective about major issues surrounding genetically modified crops. Brian Wallheimer Safety Sustainability Yield and Risks YIELD Michael Hansen Hansen says he has yet to see genetically engineered crops that improve yields despite promises of such when GMOs were first introduced. He notes a recently published National Academy of SciencesNational Research Council report stating no signifi- cant changes in the rate at which crops yields increase could be discerned from the data and that including such GE traits in policy planning as major contributors to feeding the world must be accompanied by strong caveats. Hansen points to work from Pennsylvania State University recently reported in Nature in which a conventional breeding technique led to the development of a common bean that takes in more phosphorus from soil and tripled yield in low nutrient soils while genetic engineering has failed to produce such varieties. What theyre finding is theyre much more successful using conventional breeding compared to genetic engineering Hansen says. Mischa Popoff Popoff says whether yield improves or not isnt actually the point. Genetic engineering is a proven method for improving plants. If population estimates of 9 billion people on Earth by 2050 dont pan out we will still have better crops that use fewer inputs and can withstand a changing climate. We just improve because its good to improve he says. We dont need a reason to improve. Improving efficiency is just inherently good. Kevin Folta Folta says we havent seen consistently increased yields because companies havent had the need to develop those traits.