Problematic use of sustainability claims in recent scientific literature on crop gene technologies: toward improving practices and communication

Abstract

There is growing interest in the role of agricultural genomics, including biotechnology, in enhancing the “sustainability” of food production systems. However, as “sustainability” becomes more frequently linked to the goals of agricultural genomics, a critical question arises: what claims are made about “sustainability” and how is the concept of “sustainability” defined in the scholarly literature on agricultural genomics? Using a structured analysis of the recent scientific literature, this article investigates increasingly frequent claims about “sustainability,” including how this term is defined and measured in the field of agricultural genomics. It argues that more transparent definitions and clearer metrics, tied to appropriate scholarly literature, are crucial for improving the coherence, impact, and credibility of research in agricultural genomics.