Whole industries in developing countries may disappear. The introduction of herbicide-resistant crops destroys biodiversity and rural livelihoods, which are supported by the full variety of nature. The irresponsible spread of herbicides through herbicide-resistant crops will aggravate malnutrition in poor communities. The most popular argument used by the biotechnology industry is that without its genetic engineering the world will starve. The industry promises an increase in crop yields of 10 to 15 per cent, but data from across the world shows that small farms which base their agriculture on many different sorts of farming can be five or 10 times more productive per unit than large monocultural farms.
Land reform is a much safer and more equitable route to food security.
In terms of ecological and social sustainability, food security and equity, genetic engineering in agriculture is neither necessary nor desirable.