GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996 - 2009
13/04/11 11:07
Source: PG Economics
On 13th April 2011PG Economics released the latest annual update report of global biotech crop impacts showing the technology continues to provide important economic and environmental benefits and is making positive contributions to global food production and food security.
Among main findings it is reported that biotech crops provided for less fuel use, increase in no-till farming, thus leading to reduction of CO2 emission by 17.7 billion kg in 2009 (equal to removing 7.8 million cars from the road for one year).
It is also reported that biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2009) by 393 million kg (-8.7%) and as a result decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on the area planted to biotech crops by 17.1%.
If GM technology had not been available to the (14 million) farmers using the technology in 2009, maintaining global production levels at the 2009 levels would have required additional plantings of 3.8 million ha of soybeans, 5.6 million ha of corn, 2.6 million ha of cotton and 0.3 million ha of canola. This total area requirement is equivalent to about 7% of the arable land in the US, or 24% of the arable land in Brazil.
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On 13th April 2011PG Economics released the latest annual update report of global biotech crop impacts showing the technology continues to provide important economic and environmental benefits and is making positive contributions to global food production and food security.
Among main findings it is reported that biotech crops provided for less fuel use, increase in no-till farming, thus leading to reduction of CO2 emission by 17.7 billion kg in 2009 (equal to removing 7.8 million cars from the road for one year).
It is also reported that biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2009) by 393 million kg (-8.7%) and as a result decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on the area planted to biotech crops by 17.1%.
If GM technology had not been available to the (14 million) farmers using the technology in 2009, maintaining global production levels at the 2009 levels would have required additional plantings of 3.8 million ha of soybeans, 5.6 million ha of corn, 2.6 million ha of cotton and 0.3 million ha of canola. This total area requirement is equivalent to about 7% of the arable land in the US, or 24% of the arable land in Brazil.
Download the report
Download PowerPoint presentation