Your Thoughts Matter

Food, Agriculture

Genetically engineered seeds and crop yields

Source: JournalistsResource.org

Humans have been working to increase crop yields since agriculture began, and major advances were made during the “green revolution” that began in the 1940s. Genetic engineering has been portrayed as the latest step in this process.  The majority of approved engineered seeds are aimed at decreasing losses due to pests and weeds; a primary example is Bt corn, produces a bacteria that kills the European corn borer and other insects.

Direct and indirect costs of food safety regulation

Source: JournalistsResource.org

In the food industry, the federal Pathogen Reduction Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Program regulates meat and poultry processing plants. Estimates of the compliance costs of this program range from as low as 0.04 cents per pound to as much as 20 cents per pound.  While these estimates include actual costs, they do not distinguish between the different components of the rule itself and other indirect factors that could also affect costs.