United Kingdom
May 9, 2008Navigating
the genetic engineering maze
In the decade since genetically
modified strains of maize resistant to insects have been grown
in the European Union, crop yields have gone up, farmers'
reliance on insecticides has fallen significantly and the
quality of maize has improved. That's the message from research
published this month in the
International Journal of Biotechnology from
Inderscience Publishers.
Agricultural economist Graham Brookes of
PG Economics Ltd,
based in Dorchester, UK, has reviewed the specific economic
impacts on yield and farm income as well as the environmental
impact with respect to a lower reliance on insecticide usage
since the introduction of GM maize in the EU in 1998.
So-called "Bt" maize carries genes for a highly specific insect
toxin from the soil-dwelling microbe Bacillus thuringiensis.
This toxin kills the European corn borer and the Mediterranean
stem borer, which would otherwise damage maize crops without
insecticidal spraying.
Brookes' analysis reveals that profits have risen by more than a
fifth for some farmers who previously used synthetic
insecticides to control these pests. He points out that GM
technology has reduced insecticide spraying markedly, which also
has associated environmental benefits. He also points out that
the quality of the maize produced is higher because the GM crop
is less susceptible than non-GM maize to infestation with fungi
that produce mycotoxins, hazardous to human health.
Bt maize was planted for the first time in 1998 in Spain and in
2007 the total area of this crop in Spain was about 75000
hectares. In total, the EU plantings of Bt maize in 2007 were
110,000 hectares, with crops also in France, Germany, Portugal,
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Poland. This represents
1.3% of total EU grain maize plantings in 2007.
Brookes points out that his findings are consistent with those
seen in North and South America, South Africa and the
Philippines. "In all countries where the technology has been
adopted farmers have seen consistent increases in both yields
and income levels, with annual and regional variations in impact
reflecting the variable incidence of pest attacks and damage,"
he concludes.
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