The climate benefits of yield increases in genetically engineered crops

2021/02/10 by Emma Kovak, Matin Qaim, Dan Blaustein‐Rejto · 1 citation
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Environmental Science · #Agricultural Innovations and Practices #Energy and Environment Impacts #Genetically Modified Organisms Research

paper · pdf · doi:10.1101/2021.02.10.430488

openalex publication_date 2021/02/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14

Abstract

Abstract The benefits of genetically engineered (GE) crops are systematically underestimated because previous studies did not incorporate the reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with yield increases. We estimate this impact using the carbon opportunity cost of land use. Our results suggest that the GHG emissions reductions from the yield increases in GE crops are substantial and should be included in future analyses.

Citations

• A Meta-Analysis of the Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops
• Assessing the efficiency of changes in land use for mitigating climate change
• The human health benefits from GM crops

Cited by

• Genetically modified organism [wikipedia]