Attack of the Frankenfoods: Genetically Engineered Crops Use 26% More Pesticides, and Growing

The dedicated folks at The Organic Center released a hard hitting report today, Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years. The report's lead author and TOC's Chief Scientist Chuck Benbrook, Ph.D., gets to the alarming point at the outset:

- Genetically-engineered corn, soybeans, and cotton now account for the majority of planted acres of these three crops.

- In 2008, GE crop acres required more than 26% more pounds of pesticides per acre [EWG emphasis] than acres planted with conventional varieties. The report projects that this trend will continue as a result of the rapid spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds.

Big Ag groups  like to crow about their recent increases in yield (pdf). They do this while glossing over the devastating effects on the environment and human health of showering increasingly resistant GM crops with weed- killing herbicides.  Children are especially at risk from exposure to pesticides, but that shouldn't matter much when measured against a few more bushels.

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