Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
decreased—only 9 percent of all U.S. corn farmers used insecticides in 2010.
Insecticide use on corn farms declined from 0.21 pound per planted acre in
1995 to 0.02 pound in 2010. This is consistent with the steady decline in
European corn borer populations over the last decade that has been shown to
be a direct result of Bt adoption. The establishment of minimum refuge
requirements (planting sufficient acres of the non-Bt crop near the Bt crop) has
helped delay the evolution of Bt resistance. However, there are some
indications that insect resistance is developing to some Bt traits in some areas.
The adoption of HT crops has enabled farmers to substitute glyphosate for
more toxic and persistent
herbicides
. However, an overreliance on glyphosate
and a reduction in the diversity of weed management practices adopted by
crop producers have contributed to the evolution of glyphosate resistance in 14
weed species and biotypes in the United States. Best management practices
(BMPs) to control weeds may help delay the evolution of resistance and
sustain the efficacy of HT crops. BMPs include applying multiple herbicides
with different modes of action, rotating crops, planting weed-free seed,
scouting fields routinely, cleaning equipment to reduce the transmission of
weeds to other fields, and maintaining field borders.
The
price
of GE soybean and corn seeds grew by about 50 percent in real
terms (adjusted for inflation) between 2001 and 2010. The price of GE cotton
seed grew even faster. The yield advantage of Bt corn and Bt cotton over
conventional seed has become larger in recent years as new Bt traits have been
incorporated and stacked traits have become available. Planting Bt cotton and
Bt corn continues to be more profitable, as measured by net returns, than
planting conventional seeds.
Consumers
. Consumer acceptance of foods with GE ingredients varies
with product characteristics, geography, and the information that consumers
are exposed to. Most studies in industrialized nations find that consumers are
willing to pay a premium for foods that don't contain GE ingredients.
However, studies in developing countries yield more mixed results. Some
studies, including some with a focus on GE ingredients with positive
enhancements (such as nutrition), find consumers to be willing to try GE foods
and even to pay a premium for them, while others find a willingness to pay a
premium for non-GE foods. Most studies have shown that willingness-to-pay
for non-GE foods is higher in the EU, where some retailers have policies
limiting the use of GE ingredients. Non-GE foods are available in the United
States, but there is evidence that such foods represent a small share of retail
food markets.
