GM crops were designed to be more robust and resistant to pests that destroy harvests, but 20 years on after they were introduced across North America, they need as much pesticide treatment as crops in Europe, which has continued to farm non-GM seeds.

If anything, North American farmers are using more pesticides than their European rivals, an analysis by the New York Times has revealed. Using data from the United Nations, the researchers discovered “no discernible advantage in yields” between North America and Europe.

Since GM crops such as corn, cotton and soybeans were introduced in North America, the use of toxins that kill insects and fungi has fallen by a third, but the spraying of herbicides has increased by 21 per cent. In France, the use of insecticides and fungicides has fallen by 65 per cent, and herbicide spraying by 36 per cent.

Fears of GM crops producing ‘Frankenstein’ food that is harmful to our health have proved groundless, says the newspaper, and it has deflected from the real issue that the crops aren’t more durable or produce more plentiful harvests.