Agricultural biotech has many documented benefits for the environment. Advantages of this technology include reduced pesticide usage, improved soil conservation, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. These benefits- cleaner air and water- are shared by everyone.
Use of biotech crops require less tillage and allow the soil to retain more organic matter leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions. For more information on the reduction in CO2 emissions, see (Brooks and Barfoot (2006) GM Crops: The First Ten Years - Global Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts. http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/36/download/isaaa-brief-36-2006.pdf
Biotech crops allow growers to reduce soil tillage which, according to a 2002 report from the Conservation Technology Information Center at Purdue University, has a number of benefits (http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/CTIC/Biotech.html):
Less plowing saved 306 million gallons of fuel.
Low tillage crops reduced soil erosion by 1 billion tons, a 30 percent reduction since 1980.
Reduction of water treatment costs. Reduced tillage practices saved $3.5 billion in water treatment costs in 2002 alone.
Use of biotech crops require less tillage and allow the soil to retain more organic matter leading to a reduction in CO2 emissions. In 2004 this reduction in CO2 emissions was equivalent to removing 4.7 million cars from the roads. (Brooks and Barfoot (2005) GM crops: The Global Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact-the First Nine Years 1996-2004 pg. 84) (http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/globalimpactstudyfinal.pdf)
Despite early concerns that widespread use of insect control biotechnologies would result in “super-insects”, scientists have been surprised to find that there is no evidence of increased resistance. (Nature Biotech Vol. 21 pgs. 958-959)
Early concerns about impact on non-target insects, notably the monarch butterfly have not been realized. Beneficial insects are not harmed by the protectant used in biotech plants. A detailed study of the impact on monarch butterflies can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/sites/monarch/sect3_2.html
The use of bt cotton has allowed farmers in China to reduce insecticides use by as much as 60-80%. (Haung et. al. (2002) Science 295: 674-676, Xia et. al. Aci Gossypii Sinica 11:57-64)
KEY ISSUES
Agricultural biotech has many documented benefits for the environment. Advantages of this technology include reduced pesticide usage, improved soil conservation, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. These benefits- cleaner air and water- are shared by everyone. 