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Enhanced Quality of Life


The advantages of genetic engineering are contributing to the health and well-being of small- and large-scale farmers, their farm families, farm-workers and communities worldwide.  Two experts and farmers from eight developing and industrialized countries discuss the specific, valuable, yet sometimes intangible genetic engineering pros they’ve realized from using the technology over the last decade.
Benefits associated with biotech products are contributing to the health and well-being of farm families and their communities.
Benefits associated with biotech products are contributing to the health and well-being of farm families and their communities.
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ADVANTAGES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE WORLDWIDE
Farmers, Farm Families, Workers and Communities Recognize Impacts on Quality of Life

For more than 10 years, researchers worldwide have conducted studies to identify and measure the advantages of genetic engineering of crops, such as increased yields, increased income and a reduction in pesticide applications.  However, there are significant, valuable, yet intangible genetic engineering pros that growers also consistently associate with biotech crops that often aren’t captured in this type of research — such as more time with family, peace of mind and improved health or well-being.

“Conversations with farmers reveal additional points that haven’t been quantified in studies.  Things such as … having more time to think about the management of their farms, flexibility on when they do different operations, … things like managing their risk,” says Graham Brookes, director of UK-based PG Economics.

“And these intangible benefits are very important. In fact, if you talk to many farmers, they’ll tell you they are probably even more important as reasons why they’ve adopted the technologies than the actual increases in income to them,” Brookes continues.

“With biotech, my quality of life has improved,” says Miguel Arazo, a Spanish GM corn grower regarding genetic engineering pros on his farm.  “You can sleep more soundly.  You know that the corn borer will not attack your crop.  You enjoy more free time for entertainment or for your family.”

“I get to know my kids.  I think it improves the quality of their life as well,” says Terry Wanzek, a U.S. corn and soybean grower.  “They get to see Dad more often ... It’s allowed us again to get closer to family.”

According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), 80 percent of poor people today are farmers or people that work on farms.  “So it follows that if, in fact, you can find the product that will increase the income of these people, then you are making a direct contribution to the alleviation of poverty,” says Clive James, chairman of ISAAA.

“It’s brought a very important cultural development in the area — I mean, the standard of living of all the people in the area,” says Rodolfo Tosar, a soybean, corn and cotton farmer from Argentina.

“With this new cotton, I was able to build a house, and buy a TV and a refrigerator. And I was able to buy some goats and a cow,” says Bethuel Gumede, a South African cotton farmer.  “I’m also able to buy apples, oranges, and so on ... And as you can see, my family is healthy ... So, with this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.”

© 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.

Video Transcript



Clive James, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
If you try and put the human face on poverty, poverty today is a rural phenomenon. ... Eighty percent of the poor people that we have on this planet today are farmers or people that work on farms. ... So it follows that if, in fact, you can find the product that will increase the income of these people, then you are making a direct contribution to the alleviation of poverty.

Keshavrao Bhaurao Pawar, Farmer, India
We were living a very poor life.  There was no satisfaction in farming.  But after trying Bollgard, I saw and received money and benefits.  All my loans have been paid off.  Now I stand on my own two feet.  With all this, we feel good that because of this crop, we are doing well.

Bethuel Gumede, Farmer, South Africa
With this new cotton, I was able to build a house, and buy a TV and a refrigerator.  And I was able to buy some goats and a cow. ... I’m also able to buy apples, oranges, and so on ... And as you can see, my family is healthy ... So, with this genetic technology, my life has changed completely.

Rodolfo Tosar, Farmer, Argentina
It’s brought a very important cultural development in the area — I mean, the standard of living of all the people in the area.  And we try, especially those who work with us, that they keep improving day by day.

Seferino Cosme, Farmer, Philippines
What is important for me is what YieldGard has done to our livelihood.  I don’t want to benefit from it alone.  I want my co-farmers and all the other farmers in the country to experience the good life — just as we are.

Vitthal Narayan Patil, Farmer, India
The information of new technology should be available to the small farmers also.  They should benefit from that.  The standard of living should go up.  The ordinary farmers’ standard of living is not good over here.  And if such technology comes ... then there will be improvement and this would be good situation.

Jay Hardwick, Farmer, United States
Biotechnology has had a profound impact upon what I’m doing in terms of surplus of time.  A lot of our friends like to talk about how it’s reduced cost, and performance is better, and that we’re not using it — as much pesticide.  But, one of the biggest gains we’ve gotten has been a surplus of enjoyable time to have to ourselves.  And just not for me as an operator or as a farmer, but also my employees.

Miguel Arazo, Farmer, Spain
With biotech, my quality of life has improved.  You can sleep more soundly.  You know that the corn borer will not attack your crop.  You enjoy more free time for entertainment or for your family.

Terry Wanzek, Farmer, United States
I get to know my kids.  I think it improves the quality of their life as well.  They get to see Dad more often ... It’s allowed us again to get closer to family.

Graham Brookes, PG Economics
And these intangible benefits are very important.  In fact, if you talk to many farmers, they’ll tell you they are probably even more important as reasons why they’ve adopted the technologies than the actual increases in income to them.

Clive James, ISAAA
Here’s a technology that has been accepted by small farmers in developing countries, by large commercial farmers in industrial countries.  And it’s been accepted for one reason: they deliver.

Editor’s Notes: Bollgard® cotton and YieldGard® corn hybrids contain a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects the plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests. Bollgard® cotton and YieldGard® are registered trademarks of Monsanto Company.

© 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.