Biotech
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Bt Cotton lifecycle Example
Plant Biotechnology Basics
How Biotechnology Works
Why Biotechnology Matters
The Benefits of
Biotechnology
A Brief Biotech Timeline
Frequently Asked
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Glossary
Bt Cotton lifecycle
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| - Saves 3.46 million pounds of raw material - Conserves 1.48 million gallons of fuel oil - Eliminates 2.16 million pounds of industrial waste |
- Transports and stores 416,000 fewer gallons of insecticide - Conserves 604,000 gallons of fuel oil |
- Applies 1.04 million fewer pounds of insecticide in 2.5 fewer applications per acre - Disposes of 416,000 fewer insecticide containers - Saves 41,250 10-hour farm work days - Eliminates 2,150 10-hour days of aerial application - Conserves 2.41 million gallons of fuel and 93.7 million gallons of water |
- Accrues $168 million in economic benefits from lower production costs and increased cotton yield | - Reduces pesticide exposure risk - Preserves beneficial insect populations - Creates wildlife benefits - Gives cotton producers more time for family and community activities - Gives cotton producers peace of mind |
- Produces fiber equivalent to that found in all consumer products derived from cotton | |
Benefits
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An environmentally sustainable and more specific method of controlling insect pests than conventional insecticides
- The use of Bt. technology reduces and in some instances can even avoid the need for insecticides
- Reduction of the energy requirements and inputs associated with the use of such products
The worldwide area under commercially grown genetically modified (GM) crops has been rapidly increasing since they were first introduced in 1996. Insecticide and herbicide resistant traits account for more than 60 per cent of the GM crops grown worldwide. The estimated global area of transgenic or GM crops for 2001 is 52.6 million hectares or 130.0 million acres grown by 5.5 million farmers in thirteen countries.
The increase in area between 2000 and 2001 is 19%, equivalent to 8.4 million has. or 20.8 million acres. This increase is almost twice the corresponding increase of 4.3 million has. between 1999 and 2000, which was equivalent to an 11% growth.
Globally, transgenic cotton is now grown on 6.8 million has., (16.8m acres) representing 13% of the area of all GM crops grown last year. Of the 34 million has. (84 million acres) of all types of commercially grown cotton last year, 20% were GM - up from 16 % in 2000.
In South Africa, the commercial release of insect resistant Bt cotton was made possible by the Genetic Modified Organism Act (GMO Act 15) of 1997. Bt cotton was the first commercial release of a GM crop variety in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Uganda Could Take 4 To 5 Years To Introduce Bt Cotton, Official Said. Click here to read more.
New ISAAA report on the documented experiences of Bt cotton farmers in India (PDF Format)
New ISAAA report about 2002 acreage and BT cotton.
ISAAA new "pocket" brochures summarizing the benefits of BT cotton in developing countries.
ISAAA new brochure about the benefits of BT cotton in South Africa. (PDF format)
ISAAA new report shows GM crops generating global economic, environmental and social benefits: small farmers in developing countries are major beneficiaries
Results of Insect InfestationResults of insect infestation on Bt (right) and non-Bt (left) cotton bolls.
Source: USDA
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