Busting biotech myths: Genetically modified plants, agriculture and society
13/06/11 12:26
Alexander Golikov
General Parliamentary Assembly of countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) will take place in Kiev, Ukraine From June 30th to July 2nd, 2011. The stated theme of the meeting is "Legislative support to transition to a green economy". Among topics that are on the agenda - use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), legislative support to scientific and technological progress, and compliance with sanitary norms of the World Health Organization in member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Funny situation - the Parliamentary Assembly of the vast region will be discussing prospects of the technology (genetic engineering) while just mentioning it brings complete chaos and confusion into people’s minds!
Disposition
World area planted with biotech (GM) crops has reached 148 million hectares in 2010, and and it grows in such a steady way that only few technologies could compete with agricultural biotechnology in advancing into practice that rapidly. In 2010 29 countries were GM crops growing. The main GM crops shares were (by area) soybeans (53%), maize (30%), cotton (12%) and canola (5%) (C.James, 2011). In the U.S. the share of genetically modified soybeans in total soya production has exceeded 90%, and more than three quarters of maize grown was genetically modified crop. Herbicide tolerant biotech wheat has been developed, passed through safety tests and became ready for commercialization. However, it is deliberately held from placing on the market because that this might lead to dramatic changes in the world wheat market with totally unpredictable socio-economic consequences.
The use of biotech crops brings tangible economic benefits to the growers which means - to their countries as well. Thus, for example, direct farmers’ income from four major crops only (soybean, maize, cotton and canola) rose by about US$ 5 billion, and into account the second soybean crop in Argentina – by US$ 5,6 billion. This added income was equal to 3,5-4% of the total world production value of these crops.
Growing GM crops helps to greatly intensify agricultural production. Thus, productivity due to GM plants has grown in the last decade by an average of 31%. Romanian experience shows that cultivation of genetically modified soybeans can increase productivity by 33% compared to conventional soybeans, as well as to almost three-fold reduction in the number of field treatments with chemical plant protection products. Since early 2007, a ban on the cultivation of biotech soybeans in Romania came into effect (due to entirely political reasons connected with the country's accession to the EU) and economic losses to the country after the ban are estimated at US$ 100 million annually.
Risks and Agriculture
Not only that agriculture makes up to 40% of world emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane), but it is one of the main sources of chemical pollution of the environment.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of fresh water - it requires at least half of all fresh water consumed in the world, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations forecasts that by 2030 it’s share will increase to 60%. Production of daily per capita dietary intake requires up to 5 thousand liters of fresh water (production of 1 kg of beef takes 15 thousand liters, 1 kg of basic grains - about 2 thousand liters of water on average).
Biotech crops contribute to the use of no-till practice, which allowed U.S. saving up to 3.5 billion dollars in cleaning of drainage and irrigation systems, sewage and drinking water in 2002 alone. Even France, represented by many as an active opponent of GM, has launched large-scale trials of GM grapes, and co-initiated the DROPS EU project (2010-2015) to develop technologies producing drought-resistant and water-efficient plants. The project was officially opened on August 27, 2010 in Montpellier (France). It will study the genes that encode tolerance to water shortages aiming at creating water-saving plant varieties. This international project includes 15 public-private partnerships from eight European countries, Australia, Turkey, and the United States.
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General Parliamentary Assembly of countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) will take place in Kiev, Ukraine From June 30th to July 2nd, 2011. The stated theme of the meeting is "Legislative support to transition to a green economy". Among topics that are on the agenda - use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), legislative support to scientific and technological progress, and compliance with sanitary norms of the World Health Organization in member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation.
Funny situation - the Parliamentary Assembly of the vast region will be discussing prospects of the technology (genetic engineering) while just mentioning it brings complete chaos and confusion into people’s minds!
Disposition
World area planted with biotech (GM) crops has reached 148 million hectares in 2010, and and it grows in such a steady way that only few technologies could compete with agricultural biotechnology in advancing into practice that rapidly. In 2010 29 countries were GM crops growing. The main GM crops shares were (by area) soybeans (53%), maize (30%), cotton (12%) and canola (5%) (C.James, 2011). In the U.S. the share of genetically modified soybeans in total soya production has exceeded 90%, and more than three quarters of maize grown was genetically modified crop. Herbicide tolerant biotech wheat has been developed, passed through safety tests and became ready for commercialization. However, it is deliberately held from placing on the market because that this might lead to dramatic changes in the world wheat market with totally unpredictable socio-economic consequences.
The use of biotech crops brings tangible economic benefits to the growers which means - to their countries as well. Thus, for example, direct farmers’ income from four major crops only (soybean, maize, cotton and canola) rose by about US$ 5 billion, and into account the second soybean crop in Argentina – by US$ 5,6 billion. This added income was equal to 3,5-4% of the total world production value of these crops.
Growing GM crops helps to greatly intensify agricultural production. Thus, productivity due to GM plants has grown in the last decade by an average of 31%. Romanian experience shows that cultivation of genetically modified soybeans can increase productivity by 33% compared to conventional soybeans, as well as to almost three-fold reduction in the number of field treatments with chemical plant protection products. Since early 2007, a ban on the cultivation of biotech soybeans in Romania came into effect (due to entirely political reasons connected with the country's accession to the EU) and economic losses to the country after the ban are estimated at US$ 100 million annually.
Risks and Agriculture
Not only that agriculture makes up to 40% of world emission of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane), but it is one of the main sources of chemical pollution of the environment.
Agriculture is the largest consumer of fresh water - it requires at least half of all fresh water consumed in the world, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations forecasts that by 2030 it’s share will increase to 60%. Production of daily per capita dietary intake requires up to 5 thousand liters of fresh water (production of 1 kg of beef takes 15 thousand liters, 1 kg of basic grains - about 2 thousand liters of water on average).
Biotech crops contribute to the use of no-till practice, which allowed U.S. saving up to 3.5 billion dollars in cleaning of drainage and irrigation systems, sewage and drinking water in 2002 alone. Even France, represented by many as an active opponent of GM, has launched large-scale trials of GM grapes, and co-initiated the DROPS EU project (2010-2015) to develop technologies producing drought-resistant and water-efficient plants. The project was officially opened on August 27, 2010 in Montpellier (France). It will study the genes that encode tolerance to water shortages aiming at creating water-saving plant varieties. This international project includes 15 public-private partnerships from eight European countries, Australia, Turkey, and the United States.
.
Read full article...