Madison, Wisconsin
February 11, 2008
Are transgenic cotton cultivars
more profitable?
Study shows profitability was most closely associated with
yields and not the transgenic technologies
Transgenic cotton cultivars were planted on almost 93% of U.S.
cotton acres in 2007. Transgenic cultivars with pest-managing
traits are dual-purpose products. The cultivars produce lint and
seed, while the expressed propriety traits provide part of the
crop’s insect management and/or enable use of broad-spectrum
herbicides for weed management.
Growers must choose among an increasing number of cultivars and
an increasingly diverse spectrum of pest management options
linked to the cultivars. In recent years, the number of
different transgenic cotton production options that a grower may
purchase has outpaced the capacity of the official cultivar
trials (OCTs) to adequately evaluate their economic value.
First, large numbers of cultivars are being offered; but
moreover OCTs when conducted with uniform, and generally very
high levels of pest management, do not fully assess the value of
the transgenic cultivars. In fact, the pest management options
and their associated potential for cost reductions are the
principal features of the current transgenic cultivars.
This paper addresses the challenges posed by the advent of
transgenic, pest-managing technologies, and directly addresses
the question most relevant to growers, “Will transgenic
cultivars return more profit?” Results from the study were
published in the January-February 2008 issue of
Agronomy Journal.
Field experiments were conducted from 2001-2004 to compare
production systems utilizing cotton cultivars possessing
different transgenic technologies. Cultivars of each type of
technology were managed in accordance with their respective
genetic capabilities. In 2001 and 2002 selection of the Roundup
Ready technology system resulted in reduced returns to the
producer, while higher returns were attained from
non-transgenic, Bollgard and Bollgard/Roundup Ready
technologies. Cultivar differences were noted among the
non-transgenic cultivars.
Again in 2003, selection of the transgenic cultivars reduced
returns, while similar, higher returns were attained from
non-transgenic technologies.
According to the authors, “Collectively these results indicate
that profitability was most closely associated with yields and
not the transgenic technologies.” Continued research is
necessary to analyze the 2005 and 2006 results with more recent
types of transgenic cotton cultivars.
Members of the University of Georgia Cotton Team and a Cotton
Incorporated agronomist and economist were the principal
investigators for these studies that were partially funded by
Cotton Incorporated. This project is an example of innovative,
multi-disciplinary research that is necessary to address the
questions most relevant to growers in the current economic
context.
The full article is available for no charge for 30 days
following the date of this summary.
|
Economic Comparison of Transgenic and Nontransgenic
Cotton Production Systems in Georgia |
| P. Josta, D.
Shurley, S. Culpepper, P. Roberts, R. Nichols, J.
Reeves and S. Anthony
ABSTRACT (http://agron.scijournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/1/42)
Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars produce lint
and seed and their propriety traits provide part of the crop's
insect management and/or enable use of broad-spectrum herbicides
for weed management. The standard procedures for conducting
official cultivar trials utilize common pest management across
all cultivars; whereas the pest management options and their
associated potential for cost reductions are principal features
of current transgenic cultivars. Field experiments were
conducted to compare production systems utilizing cotton
cultivars possessing different transgenic technologies managed
in accordance with their respective genetic capabilities. In
2001 and 2002, selection of the Roundup Ready (RR) technology
system resulted in reduced returns to the producer, while higher
returns were attained from nontransgenic, Bollgard (B), and
Bollgard/Roundup Ready (BR) technologies. In 2003, selection of
the RR technology system or the Bollgard II/Roundup Ready (B2R)
system reduced returns, while similar, higher returns were
attained from nontransgenic, B, and BR technologies. In 2004, a
nontransgenic system was superior to the BR, B2R, and Liberty
Link (LL) systems in Tifton, but similar returns were achieved
from nontransgenic, BR, and B2R technologies in Midville.
Cultivar selection was important among the technology systems.
Collectively these results indicate that profitability was most
closely associated with yields and not the transgenic
technologies. |
Agronomy Journal is
a peer-reviewed, international journal of agronomy published six
times a year by the American Society of Agronomy.
The American Society of
Agronomy (ASA) www.agronomy.org, is an educational
organization helping its 8,000+ members advance the disciplines
and practices of agronomy by supporting professional growth and
science policy initiatives, and by providing quality,
research-based publications and a variety of member services. |
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