GM soya yields less

 
Published: Thursday 15 May 2008

A recent study has shown that GM crops are less productive than conventional varieties. The study undermines the claims made by the pro-GM lobby of higher returns through GM crops. A three-year-long study conducted at the University of Kansas showed that GM soya productions were about 10 per cent less than the non-GM variety of soya. GM soya produced 70,000 bushels per acre and the non-GM soya produced 77,000 bushels per acre. The GM crop recovered only after additional manganese was added, which indicated that during genetic modification the crop loses its capacity to take up essential elements from the soil, the study said. Despite mineral boost measure, the GM yield could not surpass the yield of the conventional variety. Monsanto, however, has come up with an explanation for the poor yields. The multinational company says soya had not been modified to provide higher yields and they were producing one that would.

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