NABC 27: A Focus on the Issues

2015 was a milestone marking the 20th anniversary of the commercial introduction of genetically engineered (GE) crops. Global acceptance of this technology by 18 million farmers has resulted in more than 181 million hectares planted in GE crops (http:// www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/default). This includes greater than 90% of all soybeans, upland cotton, and corn planted in the United States (http://www. ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx). While many traits are under development or at early stages of commercialization, GE crop technology has primarily focused on a narrow range of traits that impart herbicide tolerance and insect resistance either individually or as stacked-gene varieties. These have become effective management tools for reducing pest problems with significant benefits for agriculture. In 2010, the National Research Council released an insightful report, The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States, which discusses the economic, environmental, and social impacts of GE crops on American farms. This report provides an excellent overview of these complex issues as we consider responsible stewardship for the sustainability of these technologies. For example, the broad use of notill practices enabled by the adoption of herbicide-resistant crops is having positive impacts on the quality of our soils and water. Furthermore, the adoption of insect-resistant crops minimizes chemical pesticide use, reducing off-target effects of pesticides on beneficial insects. However, such wide use of a focused technology based on a limited number of genetic traits has not been without its challenges. Deployment of GE technologies—as with most agricultural advances—requires the development and use of effective management strategies. Development of resistance within the targeted pests has become an issue, especially in weed control, where herbicide-tolerance genes have been widely employed NABC 27: A Focus on the Issues