PG Economics report details socio-economic, environmental impact of GM crops

The annual PG Economics report has been released, detailing the farm level income benefits and the environmental benefits to farmers and society of GM crops.

The report, “GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2012” highlights the global socio-economic and environmental impact of genetically modified crops in the 17 years since they were first commercially planted on a significant area.

Highlights from the report include:

• Farm income effects: GM technology has had a significant positive impact on farm income. In 2012, the direct global farm income benefit from GM crops was $18.8 billion. This is equivalent to having added 5.6 percent to the value of global production of the four main crops of soybeans, maize, canola and cotton. Since 1996, farm incomes have increased by $116.6 billion.
• Environmental impact from changes in insecticide and herbicide use: GM traits have contributed to a significant reduction in the environmental impact associated with insecticide and herbicide use on the areas devoted to GM crops. Since 1996, the use of pesticides on the GM crop area was reduced by 503 million kg of active ingredient (8.8 percent reduction) and the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops, as measured by the EIQ (Environmental Impact Quotient) indicator, fell by 18.7 percent.
• Impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: In 2012, the permanent carbon dioxide savings from reduced fuel use were the equivalent of removing 0.94 million cars from the road; the additional probable soil carbon sequestration gains in 2012 were equivalent to removing 10.94 million cars from the roads. In total, in 2012, the combined GM crop-related carbon dioxide emission savings from reduced fuel use and additional soil carbon sequestration were equal to the removal from the roads of 11.88 million cars, equivalent to 41.38 percent of all registered cars in the United Kingdom.