Civilization depends on our expanding ability to produce food efficiently, which has markedly accelerated thanks to science and technology, writes biologist Nina V. Fedoroff in her recent New York Times op-ed. The Pennsylvania State University professor has written a compelling piece on the importance of genetically modified crops for the world s expanding population, explaining how such innovations actually lessen agriculture s toll on the environment as they provide greater nutrition.
However, while Dr. Fedoroff has confidence in the capacity of genetically engineered crops to alleviate food shortages, the major problem she identifies is the regulatory burden slowing their development and implementation. It is time to relieve the regulatory burden slowing down the development of genetically modified crops, she writes. The three United States regulatory agencies need to develop a single set of requirements and focus solely on the hazards if any posed by new traits.
We applaud Dr. Fedoroff for her cogent examination of the topic one that merits much wider understanding and we encourage you to read her entire essay.