Study Monitors Long-Term Impacts Of Feeding GM Crops To Livestock

Recently, Dr. Alison Van Eenennaam and research assistant Amy E. Young completed the most comprehensive study of genetically modified (GM) crops ever, set to be published in the Journal of Animal Science after Oct. 1.

It represents the longest-term monitoring of the health-impact of GM crops in history as it examines at 29 years of livestock productivity and health data from both before and after the introduction of GM crops into animal feed formulations.

"The broiler information set is the most powerful because we looked at 9 billion birds that were fed mostly GM crops," Van Eenennaam said. "There was improved feed-to-gain ratios and decreased age to market, which suggests that feeding GM crops did not having any detrimental effects to the birds' health."

The U.S. Grains Council uses studies like this one to encourage policymakers around the world to develop biotechnology policies that are science-based, risk-appropriate and consistent. The new findings could have implications for the international marketplace as some countries continue to reject GM crops based on non-science based safety concerns.