Abstract

Reference: US NCFAP 2002
Title: Plant Biotechnology: Current and Potential Impact For Improving Pest Management In U.S. Agriculture: An Analysis of 40 Case Studies.
Authors: Gianessi, L.P., Silvers, C.S., Sankula, S. and Carpenter, J.E.
Publisher: National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, 1616 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 USA
Publication details: June 2002. 75p.

An understanding of the contributions, both realized and potentially forthcoming, of agricultural biotechnology for crop pest management is critical to the unfolding public discussion that surrounds it and, ultimately, will determine its future. This report provides descriptions of traits transferred to crop plants for resistance to insects, pathogens and herbicides, and discusses current adoption levels and farm level impacts of available transgenic cultivars. Also reviewed are several transgenic crops under development, the agronomic pests they target, and projected farm level impacts of their commercialization and adoption.

In 2001, eight biotech cultivars adopted by U.S. growers increased crop yields by 4 billion pounds, saved growers $1.2 billion by lowering production costs and reduced pesticide use by 46 million pounds. These cultivars include insect resistant corn and cotton, herbicide tolerant canola, corn, cotton and soybean, and virus resistant papaya and squash. The adopted cultivars provided a net value of $1.5 billion, which was determined by adding any increased value of the crop plus or minus any changes in grower costs.

In addition to these eight, many other biotech cultivars have been or are being developed to control pests. Case-study analyses of 32 such cultivars being developed show that they would increase crop yields by 10 billion pounds per year, reduce growers’ costs by $400 million per year and cut pesticide use by 117 million pounds per year. Had these 32 cultivars been adopted, they would have provided a net value of $1 billion.

All together, the impact of the 40 studied cultivars would be increased yields of 14 billion pounds per year, reduced grower costs of $1.6 billion per year and a pesticide use reduction of 163 million pounds per year, compared with existing or previous practices and pest-control products, which would be replaced. The overall value to U.S. agriculture would be $2.5 billion, based on increased yields and cost savings.

Back to USA page