Could GMO be the answer to Europe's low crop yield?
- Natalia Ramírez Comet
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
The Farm to Fork strategy is a crucial component of the European Green Deal, with the primary goal of ensuring that at least 25% of EU farmland is organic by 2030. This objective is based on the belief that organic farming is more sustainable, reduces environmental impact, and promotes public health.
Some environmental benefits of organic farming include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing biodiversity, and avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. However, one significant drawback is that organic farms often yield lower crop outputs compared to conventional farms. This difference can be attributed to various factors:
Biological Pest Control: Organic farming relies on natural pest management methods, which can sometimes be less effective than chemical alternatives, leading to more crop loss.
Soil Microbiome Maintenance: Grazing livestock can enhance soil health by adding organic matter, which sustains a healthy microbiome aiding in CO2 absorption and greenhouse gas reduction. However, this practice also requires some of the crops to be used as feed for the livestock, reducing the overall yield available for human consumption. For more on this topic, watch this video about carbon farming.
Intercropping: Organic practices often involve planting crops alongside other species that remain in the soil after harvest. While this technique supports soil moisture and microbiome health, it can limit the area available for primary crop cultivation.
The reduction in crop yields expected from expanding the EU’s organic farmland from 7.5% to 25%, combined with rising global food demand, could lead to the conversion of forests, wetlands, and other natural habitats into agricultural land. This conversion might happen both within the EU and in countries that supply Europe with food, requiring more land for agriculture. Such land-use changes undermine Europe's goals of promoting biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and encouraging sustainable local food production.
One potential solution to the low crop yields caused by pests, while maintaining the avoidance of synthetic pesticides, could be the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). By engineering plants to resist pests, crop losses could be minimized. Additionally, plants can also be engeneered to maximise production. However, organic farming prohibits GMOs, mainly due to concerns about promoting monocultures (which reduce biodiversity), potential health risks, and unforeseen impacts on ecosystems. As such, GMOs are viewed as incompatible with the principles of organic farming.
But does organic farming need to avoid GMOs entirely?
CRISPR/Cas9, the groundbreaking gene-editing technology that recently earned a Nobel Prize, is driving revolutionary progress in crop genetic improvement. Its appeal lies in its simplicity and precision. By merely designing a new guide RNA, researchers can direct CRISPR to cut specific DNA sequences, effectively modifying plant traits. Although this technology has already proven highly effective in developing crops that are more resistant to challenging environmental conditions like extreme temperatures and varying water levels, as well as pests, it is not yet flawless. Off-target modifications—where CRISPR edits unintended regions of the DNA—still pose a risk, potentially leading to unforeseen biological consequences. While researchers are working to improve the precision of this technology, GMOs still require rigorous regulation and safety checks. Once these safety concerns are addressed, it raises the question: should organic farming incorporate such technologies?
A balanced approach could be the key to sustainable agriculture. If GMOs can significantly boost crop productivity, their use may reduce the need for large-scale conversion of natural habitats into farmland, which threatens biodiversity. However, there's a flip side: high-yield crops could become highly attractive to farmers, encouraging monocultures, which reduce biodiversity and make agricultural systems more vulnerable to diseases, pests, and climate change.
The ideal solution might lie in striking a balance. Preserving a portion of organic farming in its traditional form could help maintain crop diversity and ecological resilience. Meanwhile, integrating advanced technologies like CRISPR to develop more productive crops could address growing food demand without sacrificing biodiversity or food security. This balanced strategy could allow for more efficient and sustainable food production while preserving the environmental and health benefits of organic farming.
