Impacts of Genetically-Modified
Crops and Seeds on Farmers
Prepared by David Kruft, Legal Research Assistant
November 2001

I. Introduction
The agriculture industry has traditionally been supportive of technological advancement, particularly in the field of genetic crop improvement.1 For decades, the industry has been mixing naturally the genetic traits of seeds in the search for particularly robust varieties.
Genetically-modified (GM) seeds are a significant step forward in the production of agricultural crops. GM seeds are seeds that have been modified to contain specific characteristics such as resistance to herbicides (in the case of "Roundup Ready" products) or resistance to pests (in the case of Bt corn). But the method of modification used with
GM seeds varies from the traditional method in an important respect: the genes have not been modified over generations of cross-fertilization, but rather inserted directly into the
DNA of the seed.2 Although this method is more efficient, critics fear that the result — a
"novel gene combination" — may have health or environmental impacts that are not being adequately addressed.3 As a result, the technology is surrounded by significant controversy. The reaction of farmers to this new technology has been mixed. Some farmers have quickly adopted the technology.4 Other farmers, mindful of the controversy surrounding
GM products, have hesitated to use GM seeds as part of their agricultural operations.
Farmers should understand both the benefits and concerns that are raised by the use of
GM seeds. Benefits of the technology include increased crop yields, diminished use of pesticides and herbicides, and increased profits. Concerns that farmers should address before adopting the technology include the private contractual relations between farmers and seed companies, the environmental impacts of the