Genetically high-yielding potatoes now 'resistant to climate change'? – Watt?

So why are high-yielding potatoes described as “weather tolerant”? A 40% jump in yields seems like a very worthy achievement in itself.

One obvious possible explanation for growing high-yielding genetically modified crops is “climate resistance.”

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Nearly all soybeans, cotton and corn now grown in the United States are genetically modified, often to resist pests or handle the use of herbicides, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

In addition to being fed to humans, genetically modified corn and soybeans are often fed to animals. The FDA says more than 95% of livestock and poultry in the United States eat genetically modified crops.

exist European Union As in other parts of the world, genetically modified crops are not widely cultivated. EU regulations require genetically modified foods to be labeled for consumers and allow individual EU countries to ban genetically modified crops if they choose. Most EU countries do not grow genetically modified crops.

EU genetic modification rules still apply in the UK. However, in 2023, the UK relaxed the rules to allow the development of plants that are genetically edited using modern methods such as Crispr.

Further laws are needed to allow these gene-edited plants – and later animals – to be sold in the UK. Plant legislation will be introduced this summer.

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Read more: https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-the-evolving-debate-about-using-genically-modified-crops-in-a-warming-world/

Genetically modified foods have been subject to a relentless fear campaign for decades in the UK, Europe and Australia. Genetically modified foods are known as “Frankenfoods,” a sinister conspiracy by callous and untrustworthy big agriculture and biotech companies to inflate profits at the expense of the safety of our children.

But many British and Europeans who distrust assurances from governments and big tech companies about the safety of genetically modified foods paradoxically believe government claims that we are in the midst of a climate crisis.

So why not combine the two narratives and see what happens? Clearly, we need supercrops to survive the coming mythical age of deadly extreme weather and climate change disasters. Maybe genetic modification is the answer to saving our children's future.

I may have read too much into it. Faster-growing potatoes may be more resistant to heat waves and other stressors. However, it will be interesting to see whether integrating GMOs with the climate change narrative leads to greater acceptance of GMOs in the UK and Europe.

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