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Joćo Baggio


Major Crops: Soybeans, corn

Farm Size: 1,250 acres (500 hectares)

Years Farming: 10+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 2005

Favorite Benefits: Environmental sustainability, fewer herbicide applications, more time to spend with family

Family: Married

We should use biotechnology even more because we improve the use of our most expensive natural resource, which is the soil.
We should use biotechnology even more because we improve the use of our most expensive natural resource, which is the soil.
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GM CROP MANAGEMENT CONTRIBUTES TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Brazilian Farmer Baggio Sees Soil Improvements from Plant Biotechnology in Brazil

In 2006, Brazilian farmers planted more than 28 million acres (11.5 million hectares) of genetically modified (GM) soybean and cotton crops and continued to be one of the top three principal adopters of biotech crops globally. The rapid adoption of plant biotechnology in Brazil is largely driven by two factors: the impact of agricultural biotechnology on farm economics, and the ability to adopt no-till farming — the practice of minimizing or eliminating plowing of the soil.

"Whether as a farmer, veterinarian, teacher or anything else, … our economic activity aims at having profit. To do that, one needs to save and use the existing resources in a good way," says João Baggio who farms 1,250 acres (500 hectares) of soybeans and corn with his father. "That's where biotechnology plays an important roll: It makes it possible to produce more using less land — feed more people with less land."

While GM crops have enabled Baggio to reduce costs and increase profitability within his family's farming operation, he has also been able to increase environmental sustainability of his farm through the adoption of different crop management techniques. "To those who say it's not good for the environment, I'd say we should use biotechnology even more, because we improve the use of our most expensive natural resource, which is the soil," continues Baggio, who first planted herbicide-tolerant soybeans in 2005 and believes GM crop management techniques, including the use of no-till farming, are contributing to the environmental sustainability of his farm.

"If biotechnology makes it possible to have higher productivity with less aggression to the soil in the same area, of course we should use it. … That's also being environmentally minded — to better explore the resources we have," says Baggio.

In addition to preserving the soil through reduced plowing, Baggio has decreased the application or use of pesticides on his soybean crop. "Instead of making up to five herbicide applications, you make about two. And, that reduces the use of these products, the amount of time you need to use machinery, employee work, … and therefore you produce better. That's our expectation with transgenic soy: reduce the use of agrochemicals and have a better production."

Editor's Notes:

  • 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.
  • 1 hectare = 2.5 acres

© 2007 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



My name is João Baggio. … Our property is 500 hectares, and it's mostly beef cattle, soy and corn. …

Whether as a farmer, veterinarian, teacher or anything else, … our economic activity aims at having profit. To do that, one needs to save and use the existing resources in a good way. … That's where biotechnology plays an important roll: It makes it possible to produce more using less land — feed more people with less land. …

We certainly have much less work with transgenic soy than with conventional soy. … You have more spare time to spend with your family. Also, this gives the small farms the ability to get closer to the big farms, because it reduces costs so that we become similar. Big farms have a larger-scale profit, which we don't. But, we become able to be a little more competitive by reducing costs. …

… Instead of making up to five herbicide applications, you make about two. And, that reduces the use of these products, the amount of time you need to use machinery, employee work, … and therefore you produce better. That's our expectation with transgenic soy: reduce the use of agrochemicals and have a better production. …

To those who say it's not good for the environment, I'd say we should use biotechnology even more, because we improve the use of our most expensive natural resource, which is the soil. So, if biotechnology makes it possible to have higher productivity with less aggression to the soil in the same area, of course we should use it. … That's also being environmentally minded — to better explore the resources we have.

Editor's Notes:

  • 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.
  • 1 hectare = 2.5 acres

© 2007 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.