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Javier Domínguez Arreola


Major Crops: Cotton

Years Farming: 25+

First Planted Biotech Crops: 2000

Favorite Benefits: Reduced costs, less manual labor, increased yields

Family: Married, three children

It improves production, harvesting and cotton fiber quality, which directly affects earnings.
It improves production, harvesting and cotton fiber quality, which directly affects earnings.
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TRANSGENIC COTTON CROPS IN MEXICO BENEFIT FARMERS
Domínguez Arreola Cites Increased Insect Control, Fewer Pesticide Applications

The adoption of transgenic crops has had a significant impact on cotton production in Mexico.  Cotton farmers first planted transgenic crops in 1996, and have since reduced pesticide applications by more than 50 percent and generated annual benefits of US$27 million. 

"When I started, there was only one variety that was grown here.  Transgenic cotton didn't even exist at that time.  We had some serious problems controlling pests," says Javier Domínguez Arreola who has been involved in the cotton growing industry in various regions of the state of Chihuahua for more than 25 years.

"It was much more laborious.  We had to check the crop more often.  We had to be more careful.  But with biotechnology, there is relief or comfort knowing there is protection against certain pests like the pink bollworm and others.  We don't have to check it all the time, because ... we're certain that the cotton is safe," continues Domínguez Arreola, who plants insect-protected transgenic cotton crops containing a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.

Seven important insect pests impact cotton production in Mexico, with infestation levels and losses varying across the main growing regions.  Transgenic cotton is 100 percent effective in controlling two of those major pests — the pink bollworm and cotton bollworm — and is partially effective in controlling two others. 

Bt cotton has been a valuable tool for certain areas in Mexico where the risk of crop failure from insect infestation is great.  According to a 2004 study by Traxler and Godoy-Avila, victory over the once dominant pink bollworm would not have been possible without transgenic cotton.  In addition, the study found that Mexican farmers who adopted transgenic cotton crops spent $100 less per hectare ($40 less per acre) on pest control and had $295 per hectare ($118 per acre) higher net revenue than non-adopting farmers.

"Biotechnology has helped us to reduce costs by allowing us to use fewer pesticides — as well as having a significant positive impact on the environment, which is very important today," says Domínguez Arreola. "I say anywhere there is difficulty controlling pests, Bt is a huge step forward and is the best solution for controlling them.  It improves production, harvesting and cotton fiber quality, which directly affects earnings."

Notes from Editor:

  • Bt cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests.
  • 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.

© 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



I'm Javier Domínguez Arreola.  I'm an agricultural engineer. ... I'm married with three kids. ... I have around 25 years experience working in the cotton-growing industry in various regions of the state of Chihuahua.

I've always been interested — not only in cotton — but in the control of disease and pests.  This is what I most like about my work. ... I like doing the investigations and reading — keeping up to date. ...

... Cotton cultivation has changed over time. ... For example, when I started, there was only one variety that was grown here.  Transgenic cotton didn't even exist at that time.  We had some serious problems controlling pests. ...

... It was much more laborious.  We had to check the crop more often.  We had to be more careful.  But with biotechnology, there is relief or comfort knowing there is protection against certain pests like the pink bollworm and others.  We don't have to check it all the time, because ... we're certain that the cotton is safe. ... Bt has helped us out very much with controlling pests. ... The Mexican governmental recommendations for the pink bollworm are to use Bt varieties. ... 

... Biotechnology has helped us to reduce costs by allowing us to use fewer pesticides — as well as having a significant positive impact on the environment, which is very important today.  There are lots of new laws protecting the environment, and biotechnology has helped us a lot in those regards. ... I think that if everything keeps going in the same direction, it can only get better. ...

Although we work with cotton principally, we should also have here in Mexico some of the other varieties of corn that we need. ... This is conventional corn.  You can see the degree of infestation.  This would be controllable with biotech corn.  That's why we insist that we have access to it to improve production.  You can see this is not exactly what we want — pests and weeds.   I believe that with biotechnology, this would go a lot better. ...

... Something is happening in the government within the bureaucracy preventing the import of those products.  But this is something we really need as well. ... 

I think that a lot of people haven't used biotechnology basically for lack of information or for having bad information.  We know that there are groups opposed to the use of Bt.  But we know it's proven — that for humans there is no danger.  And I do recommend to the people I work with, that they use Bt. 

There are a few people who place themselves against the advancement of technology.  I say anywhere there is difficulty controlling pests, Bt is a huge step forward and is the best solution for controlling them.  It improves production, harvesting and cotton fiber quality, which directly affects earnings.