National
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Food and
Agricultural
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Benefits Of Genetically Modified Crops Continue In 1999

U.S. farmers continued to experience increased yields, decreased costs and the ease of management offered by genetically modified crops in 1999, according to a new report by the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP). The new study is an update of earlier estimates by NCFAP of benefits accrued by farmers in 1997 and 1998.

The report provides estimates of adoption, increased production, decreased costs and decreased pesticide use. Explanations of the conventional pest control practices that growers had been using prior to the introduction of genetically modified crops are also provided.

Genetically modified crop varieties have been adopted rapidly since their introduction in the mid-1990s. By 2000, roughly one fifth of U.S. corn acreage, over half of the soybean acreage, and almost three-quarters of the cotton acreage was planted to crops genetically modified to be resistant to insects and/or herbicides.

Each of the genetically modified crops delivers a unique set of benefits to growers who adopt them. The nature of these benefits depends largely on pest control issues particular to each crop and whether other effective and affordable pest control options are available.

Insect resistant Bt corn varieties have allowed farmers to control the European Corn Borer, an insect pest that is difficult to control using conventional insecticides because it tunnels into the corn stalk soon after hatching, and is protected from the insecticides. The primary benefit of Bt corn varieties has been increased yields. In 1999, it is estimated that 66 million bushels of corn were saved from the corn borer.

Cotton growers have adopted genetically modified varieties faster than growers of any other crop. Both insect and herbicide resistant varieties have been adopted widely. Insect protected varieties of Bt cotton provide control of three of the most destructive insect pests in cotton: tobacco budworm, cotton bollworm and pink bollworm. Bt cotton has allowed growers to reduce insecticide use and attain better control of these pests, which has resulted in increased yields. It is estimated that cotton growers reduced insecticide use by 2.7 million lbs and made 15 million fewer insecticide applications per year since the introduction of Bt cotton.

Cotton production has also increased, by 260 million lbs per year. Net revenues are estimated to have increased by $99 million in 1999. Herbicide resistant cotton varieties provide growers with effective weed control programs that have simplified weed management. With the introduction of herbicide resistant cotton, growers can use broad spectrum herbicides over the growing crop with minimal crop injury. The introduction of herbicide resistant cotton varieties has led to a reduction in the number of herbicide applications made by cotton growers, by 19 million in 2000.

Insect and virus resistant potato varieties have been introduced that have great potential to decrease insecticide use in that crop. However, the recent introduction of a highly effective conventional insecticide and the refusal of processors to accept genetically modified potatoes have limited the adoption of these new varieties.

Finally, herbicide tolerant soybeans offer growers effective weed control with a simple, flexible program that has allowed many to reduce weed control costs. Prior to the introduction of herbicide tolerant soybeans, growers chose from many herbicides, often applying three or more active ingredients, some of which would cause damage to the growing soybean plants, or cause harm to corn crops that commonly follow soybeans. Herbicide tolerant soybeans allow growers to rely on one herbicide to control a broad spectrum of weeds without harming the current or rotation crops. The primary benefit of herbicide tolerant soybean varieties has been a reduction in weed control costs, of $216 million per year in 1999. Growers also reduced the number of herbicide applications, by 19 million in 1999.

Click here for the full report: Agricultural Biotechnology: Updated Benefit Estimates