How can genetically modified crops affect greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture?

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Rows of genetically modified barley plants grow in an outdoor test plot in Germany, with a yellow marker labeled 3 and protective netting overhead. — genetically modified organism Genetically modified crops are assessed for their impact on environmental factors such as soil quality.

Genetically modified (GM) crops can influence greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture primarily through changes in farming practices and fuel consumption.

A significant impact comes from the use of herbicide-tolerant (Ht) crops, which facilitate no-till farming. Traditional tilling breaks up soil, releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere, where it reacts with oxygen to form carbon dioxide, a contributor to global warming. By enabling farmers to manage weeds without intensive tilling, Ht crops help preserve soil carbon and reduce erosion.12

Additionally, the adoption of GM crops can lead to lower greenhouse gas emissions through a decreased need for fuel-intensive field operations associated with conventional tilling and pesticide application. It is estimated that the reduction in fuel use and tilling enabled by these crops could lower emissions by an amount comparable to removing 12 million cars from the road annually. Furthermore, by increasing productivity on existing land, GM crops may help mitigate the need for deforestation, which otherwise contributes to rising global temperatures.1