Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
GM Crops
Matin Qaim*
Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Department of
Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Goettingen,
Germany
crops could alleviate environmental and
health problems associated with intensive
agricultural production systems.
In contrast, biotechnology opponents
emphasize the environmental and health
risks associated with GM crops. Moreover,
doubts have been raised with respect to the
socio-economic implications in developing
countries. Some consider high-tech appli-
cations as inappropriate for smallholder
farmers and disruptive to traditional culti-
vation systems. Also, it is feared that the
dominance of multinational companies in
biotechnology and the international
proliferation of intellectual property rights
(IPRs) would lead to exploitation of poor
agricultural producers. In this view, GM
crops are rather counterproductive for food
security and development.
While emotional public controversies
continue, there is a growing body of
literature providing empirical evidence on
the impacts of GM crops in dif erent
countries. h is chapter reviews recent socio-
economic studies, focusing on peer-reviewed
academic papers. Claims and studies by
narrow interest groups are not included, as
they are not objective and usually build on
information that is not representative. We
review studies on the farm-level impacts of
herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant
crops. Moreover, we summarize some
macro-level research looking at global
impacts. Finally, we discuss the potential
ef ects of future GM crop applications,
h e global area under genetically modii ed
(GM) crops grew from 1.7 million hectares
(Mha) in 1996 to 170 Mha in 2012 (see Fig.
1.2). Today, around 17 million farmers
worldwide grow GM crops in 28 countries,
including 20 developing countries (James,
2012). So far, most of the commercial
applications involve herbicide tolerance and
insect resistance, but other GM traits are in
the research pipeline and might be
commercialized in the short- to medium-
term future.
h e rapid global spread of GM crops has
been accompanied by an intense public
debate. Supporters see great potential in
this technology to raise agricultural produc-
tivity and reduce seasonal variations in food
supply due to biotic and abiotic stresses.
Against the background of increasing
demand for agricultural products and
natural resource scarcities, productivity
increases are necessary for achieving long-
term food security (see Chapter 1). Second-
generation GM crops, such as crops with
higher micronutrient contents (biofortii ed
crops), could also help reduce specii c
nutritional dei ciencies among the poor (see
Chapters 7, 10 and 12). Furthermore, the
technology could contribute to rural income
increases, which is particularly relevant for
poverty reduction in developing countries.
Finally, supporters argue that reductions in
the use of chemical pesticides through GM
