GM crops increase pesticide use 1 February 2008
Despite industry boasts that they would benefit the environment, the current batch of commercial GM crops have actually increased pesticide use.
The true story of GM and the environment is uncovered in Friends of the Earth International's new report, "Who benefits from GM crops?".
GM has led to more pesticides being sprayed on fields
GM crops have failed
Roundup Ready crops - currently the most common GM crops - are an example of their failure. In the US there was a 15-fold increase in the use of the herbicide Roundup between 1994 and 2004.
Weeds are also becoming resistant to pesticides. This means farmers spray more Roundup - and turn to older, more damaging, pesticides. This increases costs and threatens the environment.
Another industry claim is that poor farmers will benefit. But since GM cotton was adopted in the Makhatini Flats in South Africa, around three quarters of small farmers have gone out of business.
They have also failed to tackle hunger. Most commercial GM crops are grown for animal feed for western countries and biofuels. None have been introduced to address hunger and poverty issues.
Read the report
- Executive summary (PDF† format - 956K)
- Full report (PDF† format - 898K)
- Questions & Answers (PDF† format - 35K)
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