GM Green benefits
GM Green benefits
GENETICALLY modified crops can help farming reduce its impact on the environment – that was the underlying message at a recent international conference in London.
"Overall, the largest benefits of GM use are feeding and clothing the worlds increasing populations without increasing the use of land and other resources," Monsantos UK technical manager, Colin Merritt, told the London audience.
Added to that is improved production efficiency through increased yield potential, and less use of petroleum and petroleum-derived energy to produce, package and deliver agrochemicals.
In North and South America GM insect protected cotton has already replaced the estimated use of 2m litres of formulated insecticide spray and improved yields by 7%. Roundup Ready Soyabean has cut herbicide use by 9-39%, depending upon region, Roundup Ready Canola rape has halved herbicide use and insect protected maize has given improved yield and totally replaced insecticide use.
GM potatoes with resistance to Colorado beetle and leaf roll virus offer similar benefits. Once NewLeaf seed potatoes are planted no further inputs are required to combat those problems.
By contrast conventional protection of the US crops involves 1800t of raw pesticide material, 1700t of inert materials, energy from 1500 barrels of oil for manufacturing, 180,000 containers and 150,000 gallons of fuel for delivery and application. Even then less than 5% of the pesticide actually reaches the target pests, Dr Merritt claimed. *