Union of Concerned Scientists

According to Failure to Yield,  a 2009 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), biotechnology industry claims about higher crop yields are not verifiable. “Despite 20 years of research and 13 years of commercialization, genetic engineering has failed to significantly increase US crop yields,” says UCS.

Pressure on farmers to provide cheap, adequate amounts of food is accelerating due to climate change, increasing population, demand for biofuels and the global economic downturn. The public response of biotechnology companies like Monsanto is that they are willing and able to feed the world. The promise of rapid, high-tech improvements in plant genetics to deal with new agricultural challenges is the main PR line of biotech giants.