Global Impact of Biotech Crops: Socio-Economic & Environmental Effects 1996–2007

Abstract

2 5 8 O u t l o o k s o n Pe s t M a n a g e m e n t -D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 O u t l o o ks o n Pe s t M a n a g e m e n t -O c t o b e r 2 0 0 9 1 The authors acknowledge that the classification of different countries into less developed or developed country status affects the distribution of benefits between these two categories of country. The definition used in this paper is consistent with the definition used by James (2007) GLOBAL IMPACT OF BIOTECH CROPS O u t l o o k s o n Pe s t M a n a g e m e n t -D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 2 5 9 GLOBAL IMPACT OF BIOTECH CROPS 2 O u t l o o ks o n Pe s t M a n a g e m e n t -O c t o b e r 2 0 0 9

Setting the record straight: a rebuttal to an erroneous analysis on transgenic insecticidal crops and natural enemies

“…Thus, the implications of overall effects claimed by Lövei et al (2009) are not established in ecological terms. They also fail to note the comparative detrimental effect of using broaderspectrum insecticides in the field for pests targeted by transgenic crops, which the cultivation of current Bt crops has significantly reduced (Marvier et al 2007;Brookes and Barfoot 2008;Wolfenbarger et al 2008). Finally, while Lövei et al (2009) parse out the effects of different families of Cry proteins, they lump proteinase inhibitors, which bind with and deactivate proteinases, with lectins, which bind with sugars, into a single generic group incorrectly labeled as PIs.…”

Herbicide-tolerant Transgenic Soybean over 15 Years of Cultivation: Pesticide Use, Weed Resistance, and Some Economic Issues. The Case of the USA

“…However, if this method can provide interesting comparisons, it does not give the actual amount of herbicide being applied to conventional soybean. Several studies using this approach concluded that herbicide use with HT soybeans was lower [4,12,13,37,38]. This assertion was taken up very widely by many organizations and the agbiotech industry as it was a way to promote the GM crops.…”

Genetically modified crops in Chile

“…As an example of the reduction of pesticide applications and emissions of greenhouse gases, Brookes and Barfoot (2006), analyzed the impact of the use of GMOs in 12 countries since 1996. They found a net economical benefi t at the fi eld level, which reached USD 5 billion in 2005, with a total accumulation of USD 27 billion over a period of 10 years.…”

“…Likewise, they indicate that the use of GMOs reduced the application of pesticides by 224 million kilograms, decreasing the impact of these products on the environment by 15%. Finally, Brookes and Barfoot (2006) found that the use of GMOs reduced soil plowing and other farming activities, which caused a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the agricultural sector equivalent to removing 4 million cars from the market, in 2005.…”