GM crops: For farmers and consumers, it’s time to reap the benefits

Genetically modified (GM) crops offer tremendous opportunitiesto help achieve key European public policy goals. While they are not the magic bullet that will solve every problem, their benefits are by no means limited to agriculture. GM crops can help Europe face the societal challenges that lie ahead, including sustainability, CO2 emissions and energy efficiency. GM technologies can play an integral role in Europe’s 2020 strategy to revitalise the EU economy as a powerful, efficient engine driving innovation, employment and productivity. To realise the advantages offered by GM crops, Europeans must be able to access them. If GM crops and derived products are part of the range of options available, farmers and consumers alike will benefit from the freedom to choose.

Europe needs to be confident that it will have a place in the forefront of technology of all sorts. Our global society of nearly seven billion people is totally dependent on a wide variety of technologies to keep us nourished, housed and clothed. Our needs change constantly as our numbers grow and the global environment is inevitably impacted...