Global Impact of Biotech Crops: Environmental Effects, 1996-2008
Brookes G & Barfoot P (2009). PG Economics Ltd, UK.
This paper is relevant to the Environmental categories in the following areas:
| Crops: | Maize, Cotton, Potato, Soybean, Papaya, and Other |
| Traits: | Insect Resistance, Herbicide Tolerance, Virus Resistance, Fungal Resistance, Other, and Insect Res. (BT) |
| Countries: | Global |
| Regions: | EU, South America, North America, Europe, Australia / NZ, Asia, and Africa |
| ImpactAreas: | Environmental |
Abstract or Summary:
This article updates the assessment of the impact commercialized agricultural biotechnology is having on global agriculture from an environmental perspective. It focuses on the impact of changes in pesticide use and greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of biotech crops. The technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 352 million kg (-8.4%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops (as measured by the indicator the environmental impact quotient) by 16.3%. The technology has also significantly reduced the release of greenhouse gas emissions from this cropping area, which, in 2008, was equivalent to removing 6.9 million cars from the roads.
Download Global Impact of Biotech Crops: Environmental Effects, 1996-2008 (held on an external server, and so may require additional authentication details)
CropLife International fully acknowledges the source and authors of the publication as detailed above.
Related Papers
- Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2009 The first fourteen years, 1996 to 2009James C2009
- Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2008James C2008
- GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996- 2008Brookes G & Barfoot P2009
- Biotech crops: the real impacts 1996-2006 - yieldsBrookes G, Barfoot P2008
- Social and Environmental Benefits from Agricultural Biotechnology in Brazil: 1996 - 2009Céleres Ambiental2010
