Bt Cotton

Reduced fuel and raw material consumption, and pollution

Lowering the demand for insecticides, through the use of Bt cotton reduces tractor fuel usage as a result of fewer sprays, which in turn reduces air pollution. Edge et al (2001) note that every liter of diesel fuel produces 1.67 Kg CO2 (Kern and Johnson 1993). Based on a consumption of 0.373 liters/hectare to apply one spray on one hectare and a reduction of 2.2 sprays for Bt cotton in the US, the release of 638,000 Kg of CO2 into the environment in 2001 was eliminated.

An analysis has also been made of the tertiary positive environmental impacts resulting from Bt cotton adoption. For the year 2000, the insecticide reduction in key cotton-growing states in the US alone saved 3.46 million pounds (1.57 million kg) of raw materials that would have been needed to manufacture the saved insecticides, conserved over 4 million gallons of fuel oil (15.1 million liters) required to manufacture, distribute and apply saved insecticides and eliminated the need to use and dispose of 416,000 insecticide containers (Leonard and Smith 2001).

In the Hebei Province of China, where adoption of Bt cotton increased dramatically from its introduction in 1997 to 97% in 2001, farmers have noticed a substantial improvement from the chronic air/soil/water pollution levels prior to the introduction of Bt cotton in 1997, caused by the intensive spraying of cotton with insecticides (Biotechnology Global Update 1999).

Summary topics:

• Agronomic Benefits
• Environmental Benefits
  • Reduction in use of cotton insecticides
  • Less insecticides in aquifers and the environment
  • Farmer exposure to insecticide and health implications
  • Reduced production risks and enhanced opportunities to grow Bt cotton
  • Increased populations of beneficial insects
  • Reduced risk for wildlife
• Social benefits
  • Social implications of saving water by reducing number of insecticide sprays
• Economic benefits
  • China
  • USA
  • India
  • Others
  • Distribution of economic surplus to Bt cotton stakeholders

Related topics:

• The cotton crop
• Global distribution of cotton in developing and industrial countries, by area, production, consumption, imports, and exports
• Number of cotton farmers worldwide and size of farms
• Insect pests of cotton
• Crop losses due to insect pests of cotton and the cost of control
• Global insecticide usage on cotton
• The use of Bt genes in cotton
• Assessment of environmental risk and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies
• Global adoption of Bt cotton
• Bt cotton experience to date
• Summary: Agronomic, Environmental, Social and Economic Benefits
• Future global potential for Bt cotton: opportunities and challenges
• Highlights

Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

Transgenic Crops - [Click Here]

Extensive Study on Bt Cotton - [Click Here]

Download the complete copy of the ISAAA Briefs on Global Status/Review of GM Crops - [Click Here]

SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here]

Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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