British Study finds genetically modified crops are economically devastating to U.S. farmers

BILLINGS-According to a new report published by the British Soil Association, genetically modified soy, corn, and canola has cost the U.S. economy at least $12 billion in farm subsidies, lower crop prices, loss of major export orders and product recalls.

“This report is proof that North Dakota farmers need a moratorium on genetically modified wheat to protect us from further economic devastation,” said Gail Wiley, a North Dakota farmer and WORC member. “The biotechnology industry introduced genetically modified crops when farmers were financially vulnerable. The claims that their products would bring benefits were widely accepted, but genetically modified crops have proved to be a financial liability.”

According to the report, from 1999-2001, the U.S. paid out an estimated extra $6-10 billion in farm subsidies for corn and soybeans as a result of the low prices caused by the loss of trade due to genetically modified crops. Within a few years of the introduction of genetically modified corn, nearly the entire $200 million dollar annual U.S. corn exports to the European Union disappeared. The StarLink incident alone cost an estimated $1 billion.

“This report is a heads up to Montana wheat farmers and the communities they support,” said Helen Waller, a wheat farmer from Montana and a member of WORC. “Montana’s economy can expect the same kinds of losses if genetically engineered wheat is introduced into the state.”

According to a Soil Association statement, “The Soil Association hopes we can still avoid the mistakes made in the USA and Canada, but only if we don’t open the can of genetically modified worms that commercial growing of genetically modified crops represents.”

“It’s becoming more and more obvious that there is a deteriorating export market for genetically modified crops. Other countries are now pointing at the U.S. as a case study in the economic pitfalls of genetically modified crops. American farmers should not be the sacrificial lambs to prove that genetically modified wheat is also an economic liability,” said Wiley.