www.czu.cz ; www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info

2005 represents the tenth planting season for biotech crop varieties and
provides a useful milestone for evaluating the technology?s environmental
and economical impact. ?GM crops: the global socio-economic and
environmental impact ? the first nine years 1996?2004? is therefore the
first quantifiable, cumulative, global look at the benefits biotechnology
has afforded the world?s farmers and environment. Below are some key
findings from the study, October 2005.

By Country

The United States, which grows biotech corn, cotton, canola and soybeans,
has realized the greatest economic and environmental returns from planting
biotech crops. The country has increased its farm income by $10.7 billion
and realized positive environmental influence from several biotech crops.

Herbicide-tolerant soybeans have reduced herbicide active ingredient use by
19 million kg, which has reduced the associated environmental footprint by
28 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant maize decreased the insecticide active ingredient used
since 1997 by 17 million kg, and the cumulative reduction in the associated
environmental footprint is 3.4 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant cotton has, since 1997, reduced herbicide
active-ingredient use by 24.7 million kg and, as a result, reduced the
environmental footprint by 23 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant canola has reduced the amount of active ingredient used
by 20 percent, and the associated environmental footprint decreased by 32
percent.


Insect-resistant maize has decreased insecticide active-ingredient use by
5.8 million kg and reduced the associated environmental footprint by 4.4
percent.


Insect-resistant cotton has decreased insecticide active-ingredient use by
3.9 million kg and reduced the associated environmental footprint by 7.3
percent.


Argentina follows only the United States in economic gain and also
experienced significant environmental benefits. The country has increased
its farm income by $10.1 billion. Herbicide-tolerant soybeans have probably
reduced the use of herbicides by 18.2 million kg, decreasing the associated
environmental footprint by 20 percent. Insect-resistant cotton has been
responsible for a decrease of 152,000 kg of active insecticide ingredient a
6.4 percent reduction of the associated environmental footprint.


China has increased its farm income by nearly $4.2 billion from use of
insect-resistant cotton. The use of insecticide active ingredient fell by 60
million kg and decreased the associated environmental footprint fell 28
percent.


Brazil has increased its farm income by $829 million. Herbicide-tolerant
soybeans have reduced the use of pesticides by 3.16 million kg, and
decreased the associated environmental footprint by 4.2 percent.


Canada has increased its farm income by $807 million. While the total active
ingredient used in the country increased by 38,800 kg, the associated
environmental footprint decreased by 8 percent. Herbicide-tolerant maize has
decreased total national herbicide active-ingredient use by slightly more
than 1 million kg since 1997, and the associated environmental footprint has
fallen by 3.9 percent. Herbicide-tolerant canola has reduced the volume of
herbicide by 4 million kg and reduced the associated environmental footprint
by 20 percent. Insect-resistant maize has decreased the use of insecticide
active-ingredient use by 197,000 kg.


India has increased its farm income by $124 million. The adoption of
insect-resistant cotton has decreased the amount of insecticide
active-ingredient use by 3.66 million kg and decreased the associated
environmental footprint by 2 percent.


Paraguay has increased its farm income by $80 million. Herbicide-tolerant
soybeans have reduced the use of herbicides by .78 million kg, and decreased
the associated environmental footprint by 10 percent.


Australia has increased its farm income by $70 million. Herbicide-tolerant
cotton has resulted in increased herbicide active ingredient use by 51,000
kg, but reduced the associated environmental footprint by 3 percent. Since
1996, the planting of insect-resistant cotton has reduced the volume of
insecticide by 9.2 million kg and decreased the associated environmental
footprint by 21 percent.


South Africa increased its farm income by $56 million. Herbicide-tolerant
soybeans have increased herbicide active-ingredient use by 17,500 kg,
although the associated environmental footprint has decreased by 4 percent.
Insect-resistant maize reduced use of insecticide active ingredient by
150,000 kg and reduced the associated environmental impact by 18 percent.


Romania has experienced an increase in active ingredient use in
herbicide-tolerant soybeans by about 20,000 kg, while the associated
environmental footprint has decreased by 4 percent.


Mexico farmers have realized an income increase of $41 million. No data was
available to determine the reduction of environmental impact in Mexico?s
production.

By Crop

Herbicide-tolerant soybeans have increased farm income by $9.3 billion since
commercialization or $17.3 billion when including the additional income
derived from Argentina?s second crop. The biotech varieties have also
reduced the amount of herbicide active ingredient by 41.4 million kg, which
has reduced the associated environmental footprint by 19.4 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant maize has increased farm income by $579 million since
commercialization. Cumulatively, since 1997, the volume of herbicide active
ingredient applied has decreased by 18 million kg. The environmental impact
has been reduced by 3.4 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant cotton has increased farm income by $750 million since
commercialization. The biotech crop has also reduced the amount of herbicide
active ingredient use by 14 percent and reduced the associated environmental
footprint by 22 percent.


Herbicide-tolerant canola has increased farm income by $713 million since
commercialization. The biotech crop also has reduced the amount of herbicide
active ingredient used by 4.8 million kg and reduced the associated
environmental footprint by 20.7 percent.


Insect-resistant maize has increased farm income by $1.9 billion since
commercialization. The biotech crop also has reduced the amount of
insecticide active ingredient used by 6.3 million kg and reduced the
associated environmental footprint by 4.4 percent.


Insect-resistant cotton has increased farm income by $5.7 billion since
commercialization. The biotech crop also has reduced the amount of
insecticide active ingredient used by 77 million kg and decreased the
associated environmental footprint by 18 percent.


Virus-resistant papaya and squash and rootworm-resistant maize have
increased farm income by $37 million since commercialization.

A full manuscript of the report is available at
[www.pgeconomics.co.uk]

www.ckeckbiotech.org

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