A new survey finds that the main reason farmers have increased their use of genetically modified (GM) crops is sustainability.
The U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) surveyed farmers on their attitudes towards GM technology and found that farmers believe biotechnology helps raise crops more efficiently, and that the environment and sustainability practices will suffer if GMO technology utilization is reduced in crop production in the future. Moreover, when asked about farmers’ ability to lessen their environmental footprint, GMO seeds ranked top of the list (98%).
The survey found that farmers like Chip Bowling of Maryland believe biotechnology helps them raise crops more efficiently, and that the environment and sustainability practices will suffer if GMO technology utilization is reduced in crop production in the future.
Bowling, who who serves as vice chairman of USFRA and chairman of the NCGA, talks about the survey in this interview: Interview with Chip Bowling, USFRA vice chair