Godfather
06-10-2019, 05:16 AM
[Sorry this isn't a news article it's a paper, mods can move if there's a better sub]
ABSTRACT
This study assesses the economic and environmental impacts that have arisen from the adoption and use of genetically modified (GM) insect resistant (IR) maize in Spain and Portugal in the 21 years since first planted in Spain in 1998. A total of 1.65 million hectares have been planted to maize containing these traits since 1998, with farmers benefiting from an increase in income of €285.4 million. For every extra €1 spent on this seed relative to conventional seed, farmers have gained an additional €4.95 in extra income. These income gains have mostly arisen from higher yields (+11.5% across the two countries using the technology). The seed technology has reduced insecticide spraying by 678,000 kg of active ingredient (−37%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops (as measured by the indicator, the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)) by 21%. The technology has also facilitated cuts in fuel use, resulting in a reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM IR maize cropping area and contributed to saving scarce water resources.
INTRODUCTION
GM crop technology has been widely used in maize in many parts of the world over the last 21 years and GM IR maize technology was first used in North America (USA and Canada) in 1996. Since then, its use has been extended to 185 million ha (2017) of maize planted in 11 countries outside the EU (USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, South Africa, Philippines and Vietnam). In the European Union (EU), the only GM maize trait authorized for planting has been IR maize (resistant to the Lepidopteran pests Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer or ECB) and Sesamia nonagroides (Mediteranean stem borer or MSB)) which was first authorized for planting in 1998. In 2018, maize using this trait was planted on 121,132 ha, in Spain and Portugal only (Table 1: equal to 0.07% of the total global biotech maize area).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393# (TABLE 1. GM insect resistant maize plantings 2013–2017 (ha).)
he original IR maize trait approved for planting in the EU was Bt 176 available in a single variety, Compa CB, in Spain in 1998. Subsequently, EU member states introduced a moratorium on the further approval of GM crops which lasted until 2003. During this period, the area planted to IR maize in Spain remained at an average level equal to about 21,500 ha because of a voluntary agreement by Syngenta Seeds to limit seed availability to this level until the EU moratorium on new GMO approvals was formally lifted. After 2003, the trait MON 810 was approved for planting (afterwards Bt 176 was withdrawn from the market) and became available in a number of leading varieties (a total of 90 and 26 varieties respectively in Spain and Portugal (2018)). As a result, the area planted to IR maize in Spain increased (Fig. 1) so that since 2012, approximately 30%–35% of the total maize area in Spain has consistently used this seed technology. GM IR maize was first planted in Portugal in 1999 on 1,300 ha but was not then planted again until 2005, after the lifting of the moratorium. The area planted followed a similar upward trend to Spain in subsequent years so that from 2011, approximately 7%–9% of the total crop has been planted to seed containing this trait (7,000–9,000 ha).
FIGURE 1. Area of IR maize in Spain 1998–2018 (hectares).
Source: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion
https://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/kgmc20/0/kgmc20.ahead-of-print/21645698.2019.1614393/20190510/images/medium/kgmc_a_1614393_f0001_oc.jpg
This paper presents an assessment of some of the key economic and environmental impacts associated with the adoption of IR maize in Spain and Portugal since 1998. The analysis focuses on:
- Gross farm income effects on costs of production, yield/production and farm income;
- Changes in the amount of insecticides applied to the GM crops relative to conventionally grown alternatives and;
- The contribution of the technology toward reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water saving
Continue reading: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393
ABSTRACT
This study assesses the economic and environmental impacts that have arisen from the adoption and use of genetically modified (GM) insect resistant (IR) maize in Spain and Portugal in the 21 years since first planted in Spain in 1998. A total of 1.65 million hectares have been planted to maize containing these traits since 1998, with farmers benefiting from an increase in income of €285.4 million. For every extra €1 spent on this seed relative to conventional seed, farmers have gained an additional €4.95 in extra income. These income gains have mostly arisen from higher yields (+11.5% across the two countries using the technology). The seed technology has reduced insecticide spraying by 678,000 kg of active ingredient (−37%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops (as measured by the indicator, the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)) by 21%. The technology has also facilitated cuts in fuel use, resulting in a reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM IR maize cropping area and contributed to saving scarce water resources.
INTRODUCTION
GM crop technology has been widely used in maize in many parts of the world over the last 21 years and GM IR maize technology was first used in North America (USA and Canada) in 1996. Since then, its use has been extended to 185 million ha (2017) of maize planted in 11 countries outside the EU (USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, South Africa, Philippines and Vietnam). In the European Union (EU), the only GM maize trait authorized for planting has been IR maize (resistant to the Lepidopteran pests Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer or ECB) and Sesamia nonagroides (Mediteranean stem borer or MSB)) which was first authorized for planting in 1998. In 2018, maize using this trait was planted on 121,132 ha, in Spain and Portugal only (Table 1: equal to 0.07% of the total global biotech maize area).
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393# (TABLE 1. GM insect resistant maize plantings 2013–2017 (ha).)
he original IR maize trait approved for planting in the EU was Bt 176 available in a single variety, Compa CB, in Spain in 1998. Subsequently, EU member states introduced a moratorium on the further approval of GM crops which lasted until 2003. During this period, the area planted to IR maize in Spain remained at an average level equal to about 21,500 ha because of a voluntary agreement by Syngenta Seeds to limit seed availability to this level until the EU moratorium on new GMO approvals was formally lifted. After 2003, the trait MON 810 was approved for planting (afterwards Bt 176 was withdrawn from the market) and became available in a number of leading varieties (a total of 90 and 26 varieties respectively in Spain and Portugal (2018)). As a result, the area planted to IR maize in Spain increased (Fig. 1) so that since 2012, approximately 30%–35% of the total maize area in Spain has consistently used this seed technology. GM IR maize was first planted in Portugal in 1999 on 1,300 ha but was not then planted again until 2005, after the lifting of the moratorium. The area planted followed a similar upward trend to Spain in subsequent years so that from 2011, approximately 7%–9% of the total crop has been planted to seed containing this trait (7,000–9,000 ha).
FIGURE 1. Area of IR maize in Spain 1998–2018 (hectares).
Source: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion
https://www.tandfonline.com/na101/home/literatum/publisher/tandf/journals/content/kgmc20/0/kgmc20.ahead-of-print/21645698.2019.1614393/20190510/images/medium/kgmc_a_1614393_f0001_oc.jpg
This paper presents an assessment of some of the key economic and environmental impacts associated with the adoption of IR maize in Spain and Portugal since 1998. The analysis focuses on:
- Gross farm income effects on costs of production, yield/production and farm income;
- Changes in the amount of insecticides applied to the GM crops relative to conventionally grown alternatives and;
- The contribution of the technology toward reducing global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and water saving
Continue reading: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393