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Experts Debate the Safety & Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops


2008 marked the 13-year of use of genetically modified food crops with more than 13.3 million farmers in 25 countries planting more than 114 million hectares (309 million acres). Fourteen globally recognized and distinguished scientists, economists, and thought leaders discuss the benefits of genetically modified food crops including their proven safety, benefits to the environment, and contributions to the lives of third-world farm families and communities.

This technology has, can and will deliver significant benefits in both the industrial and the developing world.
– Dr. Clive James
This technology has, can and will deliver significant benefits in both the industrial and the developing world.
– Dr. Clive James
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EXPERTS FOCUS ON TWO COMPELLING REASONS TO SUPPORT GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD CROPS

REASON #1:  Using GM crops, farmers can reduce pesticide spraying, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase yields.

Evidence continues to accumulate about how genetically modified food crops are helping to preserve the environment.  "Here we have a very versatile technology, which has the power and the capacity to contribute to a more effective, a more benign, a more sustainable agriculture," says Dr. Clive James, an agricultural scientist and founder of the not-for-profit International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

For example, insect-resistant (Bt) crops offer an alternative to, and reduce the use of, agricultural pesticides such as insecticides and fungicides.  Since Bt corn and cotton are able to produce their own protection against specifically targeted pests, farmers can reduce the amount of pesticides necessary to control them. Since 1996, farmers have reduced pesticide applications by 289,000 metric tons as a direct result of genetically modified food crops.

"What's been amazing to many of us is that we've seen advances that even were beyond our wildest expectations," says Dr. Roger Beachy regarding genetically engineered plants.  Dr. Beachy is a researcher and founding president of the not-for-profit Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.  "We all knew it was theoretically possible, but to actually do it and deploy it into the field.  And then, at the end of four or five years, report that this has an advantage of increasing yields and reduce the use of agriculture chemicals by 50 million pounds a year.  It's an astounding number."

This reduction in the use of pesticides has consequently reduced the fuel, water and packaging that are used to manufacture, distribute and apply pesticides. Typical savings include the elimination of diesel fuel that is used in manufacturing, shipping and storing insecticides; the conservation of water used by farmers when applying pesticides; the elimination of tractor and aviation fuel also used in applications; and a reduction in the waste generated from the disposal of packaging.

Herbicide-tolerant crops have enabled farmers to use more benign herbicides that rapidly dissipate in soil and water. In addition, herbicide-tolerant crops have spurred the adoption of no till farming — the reduction or elimination of plowing to remove weeds and disturb the soil for planting.  The environmentally beneficial tillage practices conserve topsoil, preserving soil moisture and reducing runoff; reduce the release of greenhouse gas emissions; and create and improve habitats for birds and other wildlife.

Genetically modified food crops also assist in producing more food on the same amount of land, which reduces the need to clear additional land for cultivation. This results in less impact on prairies, wetlands, forests and other fragile ecosystems that might otherwise be converted for agricultural purposes.

"Production in Brazil has increased significantly without great increases in the area required for agriculture.  There is great pressure at present concerning certain environments, such as the Brazilian mountainous regions and the wetlands, the Amazon region," says Dr. Francisco Aragão, senior researcher in Genetic Research and Biotechnology at Embrapa in Brazil.  "One of the ways we help preserve these areas is by increasing productivity without having to increase the amount of land used for agriculture."

Scientists agree that habitat loss is the biggest single threat to biodiversity.  Producing increasing amounts of food without increasing arable land has a major impact on protecting wildlife habitats.

"Biodiversity is essential for all life on earth.  And all kinds of agriculture — including organic farming — is a threat to biodiversity," says Dr. Klaus Ammann on the importance of biodiversity.  Dr. Ammann is an honorary professor emeritus and former director of the Botanical Garden at the University of Bern in Switzerland.  "There are many ways of doing better in agriculture, but one of the most efficient and best ways is biotechnology."

"I've studied this carefully, and the evidence is fairly clear on certain points," says The Honorable Lord Taverne on the safety of genetically modified foods.  Lord Taverne is a member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom Parliament and founder of the charity Sense about Science.  "It's reduced the use of pesticides.  It produces greater productivity. And, if it reduces the amount of farmland you have to use, it can actually be very beneficial to biodiversity."

 

REASON #2:  Increased yield and income from biotech crops improves the quality of life for farmers in developing countries.

Small- and large-scale family farms worldwide are benefiting from increased yields, reduced production costs, or both in some instances to create significantly improved net economic returns as a result of genetically modified food crops.

"If you look at the adoption of biotech crops since 1996, it's been on a significant upward curve in terms of the area planted.  And the primary driver of that has been the economic benefits that farmers have derived from it — US$28 billion worth of extra farm income to the farmers who have used the technology," says Graham Brookes about the advantages of biotechnology in agriculture.  Brookes is an agricultural economist and director of PG Economics in England.  "Now that increase in farm income has been spread across all the countries that have used the technology, both in the developed world and in developing countries."

Of the 12 million farmers who planted biotech crops in 23 countries in 2007, 90 percent were small, resource-poor farmers from 12 developing countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Columbia, Honduras, India, Mexico, Paraguay, Philippines, South Africa and Uruguay.  In these areas, the increased income from biotech crops makes a contribution to the economics of family farms and the alleviation of poverty.

"Poverty today is a rural phenomenon. 80 percent of the poor people that we have on this planet today are farmers or people that work on farms," explains Dr. James.  "So, therefore, if you can introduce biotech crops that will increase the income of these people, then you are making a direct contribution to the alleviation of poverty."

"If we give important technologies to grow more food in poor places — better seed varieties, better ways to manage soil nutrients, better ways to manage plant pathogens — it's going to create livelihoods.  It's going to create income in the villages.  It's going to convert what is now sub-subsistence agriculture into commercial farming. … helping the poorest of the poor to invest in a sustainable future for themselves," says Dr. Jeffrey Sachs about the pros of genetically modified foods in alleviating hunger in developing countries.  Dr. Sachs is the director of the Earth Institute and of the United Nations Millennium Project. 

As agricultural productivity increases in the developing world, it also drives economic growth and expands opportunities to trade, resulting in more and better jobs, better health care and better education.  "We interviewed 10,000 farmers spread across India," says Dr. Laveesh Bhandari, economist and director of Indicus Analytics in India.  "What our study shows is that the impact on overall development of the household and the community is quite phenomenal in Bt cotton-producing areas.  Greater incomes, greater access to healthcare services, greater education, and on many different dimensions — we find that Bt cotton production makes the farmer, the household and the community better off."

Global population projections suggest that by 2020, there will be an additional 1.2 billion people on the planet, which is equivalent to the population of Africa and South America combined.  "Looking ahead to the year 2050, we will have to produce the food and fiber for something approaching 10 billion people," says Dr. Norman Borlaug, the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient for his leadership role in the Green Revolution to increase food production.  "Can we do it?  I say yes.  If we continue to develop technology — including more widespread application
of biotechnology."

Editor’s Note: The reduction in pesticide spraying and tillage lessens agriculture’s impact on biodiversity. View this related video “What is Biodiversity: GMO and Biotechnology’s Impact on Ecosystems and Habitat Loss”

© 2008 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.

Video Transcript



[VOICEOVER]
More than 10 years ago, there was considerable debate regarding the global introduction of commercial plant biotechnology. Many questioned its impact on things such as farmers’ incomes, the environment, poverty and biodiversity. Today, respected scientists, economists and thought leaders who have devoted their lives to the study of these issues have found answers to many of these important questions. Here, they reflect on a decade of experience with this technology and what it has achieved.

Experts talk about plant biotechnology


The Honorable Dick Taverne
Member, House of Lords
United Kingdom Parliament
I’ve studied this carefully, and the evidence is fairly clear on certain points. … It's reduced, quite clear, … it's reduced the use of pesticides.  It produces greater productivity. … And, if it reduces the amount of farmland you have to use, it can actually be very beneficial to biodiversity.

Francisco Aragão, Ph.D.
Embrapa, Brazil
Production in Brazil has increased significantly without great increases in the area required for agriculture.  There is great pressure at present concerning certain environments, such as the Brazilian mountainous regions and the wetlands, the Amazon region. … One of the ways we help preserve these areas is by increasing productivity without having to increase the amount of land used for agriculture.

Klaus Ammann, Ph.D.
University of Bern, Switzerland
Biodiversity … mankind is depending on it, and it's essential for all life on earth.  And … all kinds of agriculture – including organic farming – is a threat to biodiversity. … There are many ways of doing better in agriculture … but one of the most efficient and best ways … is biotechnology.

Roger Beachy, Ph.D.
Donald Danforth Plant
Science Center, United States
What’s been amazing to many of us is that … we've seen advances that even were beyond our wildest expectations. … We all knew it was theoretically possible, but to actually do it and deploy it into the field.  And then, at the end of four or five years, report that this has an advantage of increasing yields and reduce … the use of agriculture chemicals by 50 million pounds a year.  It's an astounding number.

Protecting the Environment
Using plant biotechnology, farmers can reduce pesticide spraying, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase yields.



Clive James, Ph.D.
ISAAA, Canada
Poverty today is a rural phenomenon. … 80 percent of the poor people that we have on this planet today are farmers or people that work on farms.  So, therefore, if you can introduce biotech crops … that will increase the income of these people, then you are making a direct contribution to the alleviation of poverty.

Graham Brookes
PG Economics, United Kingdom
If you look at the adoption of biotech crops since 1996, it's been on a significant upward curve in terms of the area planted.  And the primary driver of that has been the economic benefits that farmers have derived from it – US$28 billion worth of extra farm income to the farmers who have used the technology. …

… Now that increase in farm income has been spread across all the countries that have used the technology, both in the developed world and in developing countries.

C. Ford Runge, Ph.D.
Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy, United States
The question that has been raised in some quarters is whether or not transgenic crops are only for big, rich farmers.  I think the answer to that is no. … And the reason for this goes back to the fact that the advantages of the technology are inherent in the seed.

The Honorable Ruth Oniang’o, Ph.D.
Member of Parliament, Kenya
So we can't just harshly and violently oppose this technology when we know that it can work for our farmers. … Because the people who are opposed to these technologies are not the farmers themselves – they are people who can afford food.

Francois Traore
President, National Cotton Producers Union of Burkina Faso
Cotton is essential to Africa’s development. … It’s thanks to cotton that we have grain. … And, it’s thanks to cotton that we send our children to school and take care of our families. …

About biotechnology, I have a wish that is starting to be realized. …  It can reduce the number of treatments, and a reduction in treatments reduces the risk of product contamination.  It also reduces the time spent carrying the weight.  This gives us more time, and time is money.

Jeffrey Sachs, Ph.D.
Director, Earth Institute & UN Millennium Project, United States
If we give important technologies to grow more food in poor places – better seed varieties, better ways to manage soil nutrients, better ways to manage plant pathogens – … it’s going to create livelihoods.  It's going to create income in the villages.  It's going to convert what is now sub-subsistence agriculture into commercial farming. … helping the poorest of the poor to invest in a sustainable future for themselves.

Laveesh Bhandari, Ph.D.
Director, Indicus Analytics, India
Plant biotechnology is going to play a critical role in the future.  Already in the case of Bt cotton, we can see the impact that it is bringing about.  We interviewed 10,000 farmers spread across India.  What our study shows is that the impact on overall development of the household and the community is quite phenomenal in Bt cotton-producing areas.  Greater incomes, greater access to healthcare services, greater education, and on many different dimensions – we find that Bt cotton production makes the farmer, the household and the community better off.

Improving Lives
Increased yield and income from biotech crops improves the quality of life for farmers in developing countries.



Luciana Di Ciero, Ph.D.
ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Brazil
As a scientist working with biotechnology, I know the scientific side – all the advantages and possibilities.  As a mother, I can say that I feel very safe with biotechnology.  I give transgenic food to my children without any concern because … I know it is highly tested – much more than other products.  So I feel very safe using biotechnology. … I have great faith in this technology.  We will have products that will benefit my health, my daughters' health … and the health of the environment where I live.

Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D.M
Health and Nutrition Communications Consultant, United States
Food produced through biotechnology is safe.  When you take a look at the Institute of Food Technologists, the International Food Information Council, the American Dietetic Association, the National Academy of Sciences – they all support food biotechnology as a safe method of producing healthy food.

Dr. Beachy
The Japanese have a criteria for safe food.  The European Union and their countries have a certain set of standards.  And, we have a set of standards.  Those are well agreed upon. … Whether or not … a crop that is developed through biotechnology is in fact safe or not safe – it’s not the issue.  It's whether or not it's on the market or not, and whether or not the consumers will have access to it. …

Ensuring Safety
Global regulatory and health agencies confirm that genetically modified crops are safe for consumers, farmers and the environment.



Dr. James
… Here we have a very versatile technology, which has the power and the capacity to contribute to a more effective, a more benign, a more sustainable agriculture.

Norman Borlaug, Ph.D.
Nobel Laureate, United States
Looking ahead to the year 2050, we will have to produce the food and fiber for something approaching 10 billion people. … Can we do it?  I say yes.  If we continue to develop technology – including more widespread application of biotechnology. 

Dr. James
This technology has, can and will deliver significant benefits in both the industrial and the developing world.

Biotech crops have been proven to benefit farmers, communities and the environment.

63 countries are conducting plant biotech research across 57 different crops. 

Discoveries made today promise even greater things for tomorrow.

PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY.  PROVEN.  PROMISING.



Special thanks to the following people for their time and expertise.

Klaus Ammann, Ph.D.
Honorary Professor Emeritus and Former Director
of the Botanical Garden at the University of Bern
Bern, Switzerland

Francisco Aragão, Ph.D.
Senior Researcher in Genetic Research
and Biotechnology at Embrapa
Brasilia, Brazil

Roger Beachy, Ph.D.
Researcher and Founding President
of the Not-for-Profit Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
St. Louis, Missouri, United States

Laveesh Bhandari, Ph.D.
Economist and
Director of Indicus Analytics
New Delhi, India

Norman Borlaug, Ph.D.
The 1970 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient for his Leadership Role in the “Green Revolution” to Increase Food Production,
Senior Consultant to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and President of the Sasakawa Africa Association
Dallas, Texas, United States

Graham Brookes
Agricultural Economist and Director of PG Economics
Frampton, England

Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D.
Nutrition Edge Communications
Denver, Colorado, United States

Luciano Di Ciero, Ph.D.
Scientific Researcher in the Forest Genetic Research and
Biotechnology Laboratory at ESALQ, University of São Paulo
Piracicaba, Brazil

Clive James, Ph.D.
Agricultural Scientist and Founder of the Not-for-Profit
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
Ottawa, Canada

The Honorable Ruth Oniang’o, Ph.D.
Member, Parliament of Kenya,
Founder of the Not-for-Profit Rural Outreach Program,
and Professor of Food Science and Nutrition
at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture & Technology
Nairobi, Kenya

C. Ford Runge, Ph.D.
Director of The Center for International Food and Agricultural Policy,
Professor of Applied Economics and Law at The University of Minnesota, and
Co-author of  Ending Hunger in Our Lifetime
St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

Jeffrey Sachs, Ph.D.
Quetelet Professor of Sustainable Development and
Professor of Health Policy and Management at Columbia University,
Director of The Earth Institute, Director of The United Nations Millennium Project, and Author of The End of Poverty
New York, New York, United States

The Honorable Lord Taverne
Member, House of Lords, United Kingdom Parliament,
Founder of the charity Sense about Science, and
Author of The March of Unreason
London, England

Francois Traore
President, National Cotton Producers Union of Burkina Faso
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

 

© 2007 Monsanto Company.  All rights reserved.

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