It would seem that environmental activists and organizations would be natural allies of approaches that could decrease pesticide use and improve agricultural sustainability. However, often biased by their negative views on Roundup Ready, these groups have tended to be some of the most outspoken against genetic engineering technology as a whole.

Concerns associated with Roundup Ready calcified into an ideology that stretches far beyond the specific product into a blanket rejection of all genetic engineering, largely under the misguided presupposition that it goes hand-in-hand with chemical use and corporate control. Over decades, despite notable efforts to mend this perception, it has been a challenge for scientists and advocates to persuade others to separate the technology of genetic engineering from one high-profile and controversial example of its use.

Today, as many in the environmental space embrace the “regenerative agriculture” movement, it is troubling to see stale anti-genetic engineering rhetoric repeated, once again setting up a false dichotomy between this technology and environmental restoration.

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We need to liberate the conversation about future uses of genetic engineering from stagnant ideology, prioritize evidence-based outcomes, and ensure that farmers can access the tools they need to protect their crops while protecting the planet.