Future in Frakenfood

Rauch's essay on the topic of looking to biotechnology to increase agricultural efficiency raises eyebrows yet also raises hopes. He notes that hardships we have gone through, the mistakes we have made with agriculture...yet he also points our attention towards a better future with the use of genetic modification (of at least crops most popular/relied on).
Pointing out our inevitable problems we will face with increased populations (of people and their pets), Rauch seems to have provided a substantial reason for supporting "Frankenfood" production. With decreased/ eliminated tillage and a transgenic crop, we will be able to double/triple food production to meet the demands of our every-growing populations. Less pesticides, herbicides, tilling, and major machinery use will no doubt prove to be positive changes for our environment...but what is not clear enough are the costs to the genetic modification that leads to these decreases.
Rauch acknowledges the concerns people have and the uncertainty that comes along with such transgenic products, but does not seem to delve deep enough into this potentially dark and dangerous reality.
I understand the great potential within biotech but do not believe that means we should immediately dive into this revolution and only answer the problems that arise as they come. This may be a situation where being safer than sorry should be applied. Perhaps limitations, such as those prescribed by the Sierra Club, are too restraining in our hopes to increase agricultural production, but it makes sense to err more on the cautious side when dealing with genetic manipulations between different organisms. The risks are outrageously unpredictable! For instance, perhaps for the first decade crop yields increase significantly, people and pets are fed, and all are happy. Who's to say genetic mutations won't lead to extremely resistant weeds in cross breeding. Maybe a crop (that isn't necessarily a native species for the area where it is farmed) begins to take over adjacent land, crowding out natives, and changing the chemistry, dynamics, and ecosystem roles and ties for plants and animals. Now the plants that were designed to be resistant to pesticides and herbicides, etc. cannot be controlled even by us. Also, just as we have seen (and still do) the relationship between viruses and hosts...antibiotics and pathogens, we may experience a situation where insects and other plants become more and more resistant. Our super genetic modification may lead to the selection for a super genetic mutation in a pest.
Rauch may have plenty of support and examples for his position, but may not have enough to suppress the doubt for risky outcomes and change the minds of millions.