September 30, 2014
New study on GM crops used as feed out in October
For many years now, the acceptability of genetically modified (GM) crops continue to be debated upon in scientific, academic, agricultural and even church circles, and this may go on for more years to come, as no definitive conclusion that is acceptable to all may be forthcoming.
Here come the results of a new research that is touted to be the longest-term monitoring of the health impact of GM crops in history. The study is coming out in the Journal of Animal Science after October 1, according to the US Grains Council.
Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and research assistant Amy E. Young examined 29 years of livestock productivity and health data before and after the introduction of GM crops into the manufacture of animal feeds.
Van Eenennaam said they looked at 9 billion birds that were fed mostly GM crops, and that the broiler information set they had gathered "is the most powerful." Feeding the birds GM crops, the researchers concluded, "did not have any detrimental effects to the birds'' health." Moreover, she said, there was "improved feed-to-grain ratios and decreased age to market."
The US Grains Council says the new findings could have implications for the international marketplace, but even then, Van Eenenmnaam admits that "we are going to have more rejections (for unapproved biotech events) in the future and the potential for trade disruptions is going to increase."