Articles
Impacts of biotechnology on biodiversity and benefits of GMOs to growers
Article number
1124_3
Pages
19 – 22
Language
English
Abstract
The benefits and risks of genetically modified (GM) crops continue to be disputed, despite rapid and widespread adoption since their commercial introduction in the mid-1990s.
In 2013, an estimated 18 million farmers in 27 countries grew GM crops, over 90% of them small farmers in developing countries.
Three recently conducted literature reviews shed light on our understanding of the socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts of currently commercialized GM crops.
The first review analysed the results of peer-reviewed publications presenting farmer surveys from 12 countries that compared yields and other indicators of economic performance for adopters and non-adopters of the technology.
The results indicated that, with few exceptions, GM crops have benefitted farmers, particularly those in developing countries.
The second review was focused on the biodiversity impacts of GM crops, considering the potential impacts of GM crops at three levels: the crop, farm and landscape scales.
The review considers potential impacts on crop diversity, non-target soil organisms, weeds, land use, non-target above-ground organisms, and area-wide pest suppression.
The third review covers literature on the broadly defined socioeconomic impacts of GM crops, looking beyond changes in yields and costs to the distribution of impacts across groups, as well as secondary impacts on labour markets, non-pecuniary factors and social welfare.
The primary findings include: farmers receive a substantial share of overall benefits, consumers also benefit from lower prices, small farmers in developing countries benefit from GM crops and adopters report improvements in health, education, debt repayment, maternal care services and food security.
In 2013, an estimated 18 million farmers in 27 countries grew GM crops, over 90% of them small farmers in developing countries.
Three recently conducted literature reviews shed light on our understanding of the socioeconomic and biodiversity impacts of currently commercialized GM crops.
The first review analysed the results of peer-reviewed publications presenting farmer surveys from 12 countries that compared yields and other indicators of economic performance for adopters and non-adopters of the technology.
The results indicated that, with few exceptions, GM crops have benefitted farmers, particularly those in developing countries.
The second review was focused on the biodiversity impacts of GM crops, considering the potential impacts of GM crops at three levels: the crop, farm and landscape scales.
The review considers potential impacts on crop diversity, non-target soil organisms, weeds, land use, non-target above-ground organisms, and area-wide pest suppression.
The third review covers literature on the broadly defined socioeconomic impacts of GM crops, looking beyond changes in yields and costs to the distribution of impacts across groups, as well as secondary impacts on labour markets, non-pecuniary factors and social welfare.
The primary findings include: farmers receive a substantial share of overall benefits, consumers also benefit from lower prices, small farmers in developing countries benefit from GM crops and adopters report improvements in health, education, debt repayment, maternal care services and food security.
Authors
J.E. Carpenter
Keywords
yield, developing countries, socio-economics
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