Genetically engineered crops have been responsible for an increase of 383 million pounds of herbicide use in the United States over the first 13 years of commercial use of biotech crops, according to a new report.
The Organic Center released the report, Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years, which explores the impact of the adoption of GE corn, soybean, and cotton on pesticide use in the United States, drawing principally on data from the United States Department of Agriculture.
The report notes that GE crops are pushing pesticide use upward at a "rapidly accelerating pace".
In 2008, GE crop acres required over 26 per cent more pounds of pesticides per acre than acres planted to conventional varieties. The report projects that this trend will continue as a result of the "rapid spread of glyphosate-resistant weeds".
The report adds that claims that biotechnology crops are reducing pesticide use "was valid for the first few years of commercial use of GE corn, soybeans and cotton. But, as this report shows, it is no longer."
According to the US Department of Agriculture, American farmers have embraced biotech varieties of soybeans, cotton and corn at the rate of 91pc, 88pc and 85pc, respectively.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, executive vice president, food and agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), countered the report stating that farmers embrace biotechnology because of the benefits these products deliver, specifically crops that yield more per acre with lower production costs while using farming practices that better protect the land and environment.
"This is especially true for American farmers, four out of five of whom choose biotech crop varieties over conventional crops that require more production inputs such as sprays to control insect pests and tilling to control weeds," Ms Lauritsen said.
Specifically on pesticide use she added since 1997, the use of pesticides on global biotech crop acreage has been reduced by 790 million pounds, an 8.8pc reduction.
In addition, biotechnology has allowed farmers to adopt no- and reduced-tillage systems which utilise herbicidal weed control rather than plowing.
"This is delivering important benefits in the form of improved soil health and water retention, reduced runoff, fuel conservation, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and more efficient carbon storage in the soil," Lauritsen stated.
BIO said in 2007, the fuel savings alone was equivalent to removing 31.2 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or equal to removing nearly 6.3 million cars from the road for one year.
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