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Spain


Spanish farmers have been the leading adopters of GMO in Europe, planting 250,000 acres (100,000 hectares) of insect-protected (Bt) hybrids in 2005 — a 70 percent increase over 2004 plantings.  Annual benefits for GM corn farmers have included reducing pesticide applications by up to 123,000 pounds (56,000 kg) per year, while achieving 10-15 percent higher yields and increasing gross margins for farmers by 12 percent.  Experts project farmers will adopt newly approved GM corn hybrids and future traits over the next two to three years due to the strong performance of these crops since their commercial introduction in 1998.
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Grower Profiles


Miguel Arazo
More than half of the corn grown in Spain is produced in regions with medium or high annual corn borer pest pressures, which result in yield losses for growers of 5 - 15 percent annually. Miguel Arazo, a GM corn grower, describes how plant biotechnology in Spain has improved his farm operation by eliminating crop losses and reducing his use of pesticides — resulting in greater peace of mind.
Length: 2:15
Pedro Lerín
Spanish farmers are realizing 10-15 percent higher yields and averaging a 12 percent increase in gross margins due to GMO in Europe — specifcally due to GM corn.  Pedro Lerín, a Spanish corn grower, describes the significant advantages that plant biotechnology has brought to his business — better yield, cleaner grain, better quality — and to his family through less worrying and more peace and tranquility.
Length: 2:15
Ismael Purroy
Spanish growers have led the adoption of GMO in Europe — resulting in annual reductions of pesticide applications of up to 123,000 pounds (56,000 kg) per year in Spain.  Ismael Purroy, a GM corn grower from Spain, explains how biotech crops have eliminated damage from serious insect infestations and brought peace of mind and security to him and his family.
Length: 1:47

Video Transcripts



Pedro Lerín
The difference in my business, between now and the way it used to be 10 years ago, is huge.  It has changed completely.

By planting transgenic corn, for example, we have a better yield, cleaner grain and a better quality. ... Truly it is very beneficial — a very big advantage.  Biotechnology means a lot to me and my family.  To begin with, it saves us from having to apply two or three treatments to the corn, which mean many, many hours of work.  This extra amount of time is time I can spend with my wife and my children.  It takes much less worrying. ...  And this way, we have a lot of peace and tranquility.

Ismael Purroy
For us here, it means a lot, especially in the problem years.  It means the difference between ending up with a good year or with a bad year. ... It makes being able to make calculations and projections easier. ... You can be a bit more confident about what the production is going to be like.

Farming also is something that has influence, above all, on our kids.  Because they see that being a farmer is something that is profitable — that you can live from and that you can enjoy being a farmer.

© 2005 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.