Studies Show Biotech Crops Provide Significant Benefits

Biotech crops continue to deliver significant global economic and environmental benefits. This was the conclusion of two new studies from PG Economics Limited, a United Kingdom-based advisory and consultancy services agency.

"Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying, significantly boosted farmers' incomes and resulted in lower real world prices for corn, canola, soybeans and the main derivatives of these crops," said Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics, co-author of the reports. "The technology has also made important contributions to increasing crop yields, 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 and affordability of food, with these benefits and improvements being greatest in developing countries".

Among the key findings include:

• Biotech crops have contributed to significantly reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices.
• Biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2008) by 352 million kg.
• Herbicide tolerant biotech crops have facilitated the adoption of no/reduced tillage production systems in many regions, especially South America.
• There have been substantial net economic benefits at the farm level amounting to $9.4 billion in 2008 and $52 billion for the 13- year period.
• Of the total farm income benefit, 50.5% ($26.25 billion) has been due to yield gains, with the balance arising from reductions in the cost of production.

Go to http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/ to download the full report.