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Commercialized GM crops and yield

Nature Biotechnology volume 27, pages 803–804 (2009)Cite this article

To the Editor:

A News story in your July issue highlights a controversial report from the Union of Concerned Scientists concluding that commercialized genetically modified (GM) crops have had negligible effect on food crop yields in the United States1. Despite the increasing use of GM crops around the world2, agricultural biotech remains contentious in some countries, especially in Europe3. Influenced by biased reports, Europeans tend to overrate GM crop risks, while underrating the benefits4. Claims that the technology is needed to ensure food security and poverty reduction are often considered empty promises and are dismissed as industry propaganda. This in turn prompts widespread public concerns about negative social implications in developing countries5. Correspondence in this journal has also documented how GM crop opposition in Europe is hurting farmers and researchers6. More seriously, through trade relations and lobbying efforts of antibiotech groups, European attitudes are spilling over to developing countries, where they crucially impede biotech developments as well7. Here, we summarize our recent research on the socioeconomic effects of insect-resistant Bacillus thuringiensis toxin (Bt) cotton in India8,9. In this case, at least, there is strong evidence that the trait in this crop is already contributing to poverty reduction in the subcontinent.

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Figure 1: Household income effects of Bt cotton in comparison to conventional cotton in rural India.

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Acknowledgements

The financial support of the German Research Foundation (DFG) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany

    Matin Qaim

  2. University of Warwick, Coventry, UK

    Arjunan Subramanian

  3. University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany

    Prakash Sadashivappa

Authors
  1. Matin Qaim
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  2. Arjunan Subramanian
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  3. Prakash Sadashivappa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matin Qaim.

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Qaim, M., Subramanian, A. & Sadashivappa, P. Commercialized GM crops and yield. Nat Biotechnol 27, 803–804 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0909-803b

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