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Pesticide Reduction


Consumers consistently rank a reduction in the use of pesticides as the most valuable benefit of agricultural biotechnology.  Since 1996, farmers have reduced pesticide applications by 289,000 metric tons as a direct result of genetically modified (GM) crops.  Farmers from eight developing and industrialized countries discuss how agricultural biotechnology has impacted pesticide spraying within their own operations — in some cases providing alternatives to pesticides.
Since 1996, pesticide applications have been reduced by 172,000 metric tons as a result of the introduction of biotech crops.
Since 1996, pesticide applications have been reduced by 172,000 metric tons as a result of the introduction of biotech crops.
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BIOTECH CROPS REDUCE USE OF PESTICIDES WORLDWIDE
Growers Reduce Pesticide Applications by 172,000 Metric Tons Between 1996-2004

Consumers consistently rank a reduction in the use of pesticides as the most valuable benefit of plant biotechnology.  Between 1996 and 2004, farmers reduced pesticide applications by 172,000 metric tons as a direct result of genetically modified (GM) crops.  

“With the old seed, I used to plant it, and then when it was knee-high, I had to go and buy chemicals to control the insects,” says Elizabeth Jele, a South African cotton grower who finds GM crops provide alternatives to pesticides.  “With this new seed, I don’t have to buy the chemicals anymore … so I just plant it and leave it. And my life is now easier and better.”

In India, farmers who use Bt (insect-protected) cotton averaged 0.62 pesticide applications compared to an average of 3.68 applications in conventional cotton.  “It is cost-effective. We have to spray just 2-3 times. But with the other seeds, the worms would attack, and we had to spray at least 15-20 times. And with this, just 2-3 sprays is enough,” says Indian grower Eknath Shivram Pandit on pesticide reduction.

“One thing that has helped by using Bollgard is that there has been a reduction in the number of times of spraying pesticides … This cotton had to be sprayed only once,” says Keshavrao Bhaurao Pawar, also an Indian grower.  “Since I had to spray only once, my expenses have reduced. And the bollworms that come, have vanished.”

Since 1996, the use of GM soybeans has been one of the largest contributors to a reduction in the use of pesticides, accounting for cumulative reductions of 41,000 metric tons.  “So now, with the new biotechnology, we’ve been able to reduce our spraying — a lot of times just to one pass,” says Canadian canola and soybean grower Art Enns.  “Yes, it does save us some money. But for me, it just means less application of chemicals. And it’s just a much more efficient way of trying to control a lot of those situations out there.”

In Australia, farmers used 50 percent fewer pesticide applications on Bt cotton than conventional growers.  Reductions in the use of pesticides have been associated with an increase in insect, bird and wildlife populations on-farm.  “The production of Bollgard has allowed more life to live on our farm. We have life in our crops. We have life around the crops,” says Australian farmer Betsy Turner.

“And, it’s a quality of life issue,” summarizes Turner.  “And it’s — if you choose to be in agriculture, you can choose to live without hard chemistry.”

Editor’s Notes:

  • Bollgard® cotton contains a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that protects cotton plants from specific lepidopteron insect pests. Bollgard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company.
  • 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.

© 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.

Video Transcript



Since 1996, pesticide applications have been reduced by 172,000 metric tons as a direct result of the introduction of biotech crops.

Elizabeth Jele, South Africa
With the old seed, I used to plant it, and then when it was knee-high, I had to go and buy chemicals to control the insects. With this new seed, I don’t have to buy the chemicals anymore … so I just plant it and leave it. And my life is now easier and better.

Jesus Gavino, Philippines
While we only knew at first that it deterred corn borers, which is why we liked it, today no one sprays on their corn anymore. … So farmers are happier now…

Miguel Arazo, Spain
… you enjoy more free time because you don’t need to be so dependent on … insecticides that traditional corn requires.

Roman & Adelaida Bernal, Philippines
Before I planted YieldGard, I’d be so tired I could not even bring myself to give her a hug — especially after spraying. Now there’s no problem like that … I can even kiss her now.

Betsy Turner, Australia
… the production of Bollgard has allowed more life to live on our farm. We have life in our crops. We have life around the crops.

Andrés Fernández Madero, Argentina
The population of beneficial insects has increased considerably nowadays. … We make fewer insecticide controls … There are a lot of bugs that are beneficial that we’re not killing …

Rob Newell, Australia
… when we used to spray a lot — like nothing moved in the crop basically. And therefore, there were no beneficials there. So now, with not spraying, there’s crops full of beneficial insects … It’s basically a win for growers and a win for the environment.

Keshavrao Bhaurao Pawar, India
One thing that has helped by using Bollgard is that there has been a reduction in the number of times of spraying pesticides … This cotton had to be sprayed only once. Since I had to spray only once, my expenses have reduced. And the bollworms that come, have vanished.

Kavita Keshavrao Pawar, India
We feel happy that our parents have been rewarded and had to work less. Because with the other cotton seeds, they had to spray the crop again and again.

Jay Hardwick, United States
… we’re just doing less spraying. For example … It was very customary for us to spray a cotton crop 12, 15 times. But now, we’re only spraying it for pests, in terms of insects, maybe three times …

Eknath Shivram Pandit, India
… it is cost-effective. We have to spray just 2-3 times. But with the other seeds, the worms would attack, and we had to spray at least 15-20 times. And with this, just 2-3 sprays is enough.

Art Enns, Canada
So now, with the new biotechnology, we’ve been able to reduce our spraying — a lot of times just to one pass. … Yes, it does save us some money. But for me, it just means less application of chemicals. And it’s just a much more efficient way of trying to control a lot of those situations out there.

Rob Newell, Australia
So basically everyone — everyone’s a lot happier. And might I say, we’re a lot happier too for not spraying all the insecticide.

Betsy Turner, Australia
… And, it’s a quality of life issue. And it’s — if you choose to be in agriculture, you can choose to live without hard chemistry.

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.
  • 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.

© 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.