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Australia


Adoption of biotechnology in Australia is strong with farmers planting 80 percent of their 750,000 cotton acres (300,000 hectares) to genetically modified (GM) varieties.  Nearly half of these biotech varieties offer traits for both insect protection (Bt) and improved weed control.  Australian farmers were among the first in the world to plant GM cotton in 1996, and have now gained an estimated US$70 million in net farm income.  In addition, they’ve reduced agricultural pesticide applications by 20.24 million pounds (9.2 million kg) and decreased the associated “environmental footprint” by 21 percent.
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Grower Profiles


Tom McKeon
The adoption of GM cotton has significantly reduced spraying of agricultural pesticides in Australian cotton crops over the past decade. Cotton farmer Tom McKeon shares how GM cotton with insect- and weed-control traits benefits the financial viability of rural Australia and his farm – increasing yields, reducing pesticide spraying and improving crop vigor.
Length: 2:23
Robert Tuck
In 2005, Australian farmers planted 80 percent of their cotton acres with genetically modified varieties. Cotton farmer and livestock producer Robert Tuck describes how biotechnology in Austrailia has raised the sustainability of his farm, benefited the environment and increased the time he has free to spend with his family.
Length: 2:14
Paul Brimblecombe
Australian farmers plant 80 percent of their 750,000 acres (300,000 hectares) of cotton to biotech varieties. After 30 years of growing cotton, Australian farmer Paul Brimblecombe explains how his adoption of GM cotton in 1996 has enabled him to more precisely and simply produce a healthier crop, reduce agricultural pesticide applications, reduce plowing, and create a healthier eco-system around his crop.
Length: 1:58
Rob Newell
Between 1996 and 2004, biotechnology in Australia enabled farmers to reduce agricultural pesticide applications by more than 20 million lbs. (9.2 million kg).  Australian GM cotton producer Rob Newell credits reduced spraying with increasing the beneficial insects and bird populations on his farm, as well as increasing his community’s appreciation for biotechnology.
Length: 1:54
Betsy Turner
Cotton growers worldwide lose millions of dollars annually in yield loss and costs related to preventing and controlling Bollworm infestations in their crops.  Biotechnology in Australia has enabled GM cotton producer Betsy Turner to eliminate the use of chemical applications for Bollworm control — subsequently providing greater safety for farm workers and allowing more wildlife to live on their farm.
Length: 2:00

Video Transcripts



Betsy Turner
This is how I would like Australian agriculture to be — …  producing food and fiber that was at a high quality, that people wanted to buy, that we were proud to grow. …  The production of Bollgard has allowed more life to live on our farm.  We have life in our crops.  We have life around the crops. …  And, people who work on the farm can live a life that doesn’t have them exposed to the use of harsh chemicals. …  It’s a quality of life issue.  And it’s — if you choose to be in agriculture, you can choose to live without hard chemistry.

Rob Newell
It’s basically a win for growers and a win for the environment. …  When we used to spray a lot — like nothing moved in the crop basically.  And therefore, there were no beneficials there.  So, now with not spraying, this crop’s full of beneficial insects… 

So, we’ve got more lady beetles — …  spiders, wasps out there eating the pest insects.  Therefore, there’s more sort of food for the birds…  We’re seeing a lot more birds around than we’ve ever seen before.

Robert Tuck
Sustainability on our farm is a very important issue.  We’ve — with the introduction of biotechnology and GM cotton — it has definitely raised our sustainability on this farm.  I’ve got three boys ranging from five to one. …  And, we want to see a future for them.  I’m a fourth generation farmer in this area, …  and definitely, I want to see my boys carry it on. …  and their future definitely looks more rosy now. … 

…  And plus, yeah, the big benefit — I spend a lot more time with my family, which my boys and wife really enjoy.

Editor’s Notes:

  • Bollgard® cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.  Bollgard a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.
  • Pesticides registered by the U.S. EPA will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on man or the environment, when used in accordance with label directions.

© 2006 Monsanto Company.  All rights reserved. The copyright holder consents to the use of this material and the images in the published context only and solely for the purpose of promoting the benefits of agricultural biotechnology.