Atlanta, Georgia, USA
May 20, 2009
“Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to
reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from
agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying and significantly
boosted farmers’ incomes,” said Graham Brookes, director of
PG Economics, co-author of the report. “The technology has
also made important contributions to increasing the yields
of many farmers, reducing production risks, improving
productivity and raising global production of key crops.
The combination of economic and environmental benefit
delivery is therefore making a valuable contribution to
improving the sustainability of global agriculture, with
these benefits and improvements being greatest in developing
countries”
Previewing the findings of the comprehensive study, the key
findings are:
-
Biotech crops have contributed to significantly reducing
the release of greenhouse gas emissions from
agricultural practices. This results from less fuel use
and additional soil carbon storage from reduced tillage
with biotech crops. In 2007, this was equivalent to
removing 14.2 billion kg of carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere or equal to removing nearly 6.3 million cars
from the road for one year;
-
Biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying
(1996-2007) by 359 million kg (-8.8%: equivalent to
about 125% of the annual volume of pesticide active
ingredient applied to arable crops in the European
Union) and as a result decreased the environmental
impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on
the area planted to biotech crops by 17.2%;
-
Herbicide tolerant biotech crops have facilitated the
adoption of no/reduced tillage production systems in
many regions, especially South America. This has made
important contributions to reducing soil erosion and
improving soil moisture levels;
-
There
have been substantial net economic benefits at the farm
level amounting to $10.1 billion in 2007 and $44.1
billion for the twelve year period. The farm income
gains in 2007 is equivalent to adding 4.4% to the value
of global production of the four main biotech crops of
soybeans, corn, canola and cotton;
-
Of the
total farm income benefit, 46.5% ($20.5 billion) has
been due to yield gains, with the balance arising from
reductions in the cost of production. Two thirds of the
yield gain derive from adoption of insect resistant
crops and the balance from herbicide tolerant crops;
-
Farmers in developing countries obtained the largest
share of the farm income gains in 2007 (58%) and over
the twelve year period obtained 50% of the total ($44.1
billion) gains;
-
The
cost farmers paid for accessing GM technology in 2007
was equal to 24% of the total technology gains (a total
of $13.2 billion inclusive of farm income gains ($10.1
billion) plus cost of the technology payable to the seed
supply chain ($3.17 billion*));
-
For
farmers in developing countries the total cost of
accessing the technology in 2007 was equal to about 14%
of total technology gains, whilst for farmers in
developed countries the cost was 34% of the total
technology gains. Whilst circumstances vary between
countries, the higher share of total technology gains
accounted for by farm income gains in developing
countries relative to the farm income share in developed
countries reflects factors such as weaker provision and
enforcement of intellectual property rights in
developing countries;
-
Since
1996, biotech traits have added 67.8 million tonnes and
62.4 million tonnes respectively to global production of
soybeans and corn. The technology has also contributed
an extra 6.85 million tonnes of cotton lint and 4.44
million tonnes of canola;
-
Production of soybeans, corn, cotton and canola on the
areas planted to biotech crops, in 2007, were
respectively +29.8%, +7.6%, +19.8% and +8.5% higher than
levels would have otherwise been if GM technology had
not been used by farmers;
-
If GM
technology had not been available to the (12 million)
farmers using the technology in 2007, maintaining
global production levels at the 2007 levels would have
required additional plantings of 5.9 million ha of
soybeans, 3 million ha of corn, 2.5 million ha of cotton
and 0.3 million ha of canola. This total area
requirement is equivalent to about 6% of the arable land
in the US, or 23% of the arable land in Brazil.
For additional information, contact Graham
Brookes. Tel +44 (0) 1531 650123
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