GM Crops: The First Ten Years - International Service for the ...

GM Crops: The First Ten Years
Figure 12. National farm income impact of using GM IR maize in Canada 1996-2005
Million $
3.5.4 South Africa
GM IR maize has been grown commercially in South Africa since 2000. In 2005, 25% of the
country's total maize crop of 1.54 million ha was to GM IR cultivars.
The impact on farm profitability is summarised in Table 19. The main impact has been an average
yield improvement of about 11%, although there has also been a small net saving in cost of
production of $1/ha-$2/ha.
At the national level, the increase in farm income in 2005 was almost $15 million and cumulatively
since 2000 it has been nearly $59 million. In terms of national maize production, the use of Bt
technology on 25% of the planted area has resulted in a net increase in national maize production
of 2.78% in 2005. The value of the additional income generated was also equivalent to an annual
increase in production of about 2.66%.
3.5.5 Spain
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Notes: 1. Yield increase of 5% based on industry assessments (consistent with US analysis). Cost of technology and insecticide cost
savings based on US analysis, 2. Bt area planted in 1996 = 1,000 ha, 3. All values for prices and costs denominated in Canadian dollars
have been converted to US dollars at the annual average exchange rate in each year
Spain has been commercially growing GM IR maize since 1998 and in 2005, about 11% (48,000
ha) of the country's maize crop was planted to varieties containing a GM IR trait.
As in the other countries planting GM IR maize, the main impact on farm profitability has been
increased yields (an average increase in yield of 6.3% across farms using the technology), although
24