Roundup Ready - Monsanto

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GROWING OPTIONS: THE ROAD AHEAD IMPACTS OF BT COTTON IN MEXICO HIGHER YIELDS AND HIGHER NET REVENUES WITH FEWER INSECTICIDE SPRAY APPLICATIONS 27 Bt cotton has been grown in Mexico since 1996. It is effective in controlling two major pests — pink bollworm and cotton bollworm. A study published by Greg Traxler et al. focused on the impact of Bt cotton in the Comarca Lagunera region in the northern states of Coahuila and Durango, where Bt adoption reached 96 percent within three years of local introduction in 1997. Information was collected on yield impacts, revenue, and pest control costs for the first two years that Bt cotton was widely grown in Mexico — 1997 and 1998. Bt cotton adoption was shown to have reduced the number of insecticide applications needed to control certain pests, to have had a positive impact on yield, and to have increased net revenue. According to the study, adoption of Bt cotton varieties increased to 72 percent in 1998. Average yields for Bt cotton were 0.29 tons per hectare higher than for conventional cotton, and lint quality was higher for Bt cotton. An average of two fewer pesticide applications was used for Bt cotton than for conventional cotton. As shown in Table 1, total seed and pesticide costs were $83.19 less, with a net profit advantage in 1998 of $626.74. Table 1: Year 1998 YIELD INCREASE » 0.29 tons/hectare SEED AND PESTICIDE SAVINGS » $83.19 NET PROFIT ADVANTAGE » $626.74 IMPACTS OF BT COTTON IN ARGENTINA IMPROVED YIELDS, FEWER PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS, HIGHER NET REVENUES 28 Qaim et al. reviewed the use of Bt cotton in Argentina over two growing seasons, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001. They estimated the effectiveness of Bt versus chemical pesticides and the technological impacts on different farm types. The authors noted the following potential farm-level impacts. Yield Impacts Net yield gain was predicted at 19 percent for average large-scale growers; for small producers, the gain could be 41 percent. Yield impacts of Bt cotton are generally greater on farms where the crop pest has not been effectively controlled by chemical pesticides or other alternatives. Therefore, higher gains are predicted for small-scale farmers who use less pesticide in general and therefore suffer higher crop damage. Number of Pesticide Applications In both growing seasons, Bt cotton was sprayed about half as often as conventional cotton. Insecticide amounts were reduced by 55 percent in 1999-2000 and 43 percent in 2000-2001 (Bt and non-Bt compared on the same farms). Most reductions were in the broad-spectrum pesticide category. Net Revenues Gross benefits of Bt technology were predicted to be $82 per hectare for growers who farmed more than 90 hectares. Gains could be $97 per hectare for smallscale cotton producers. The authors noted that price is currently a limiting factor in the broader adoption of Bt cotton by Argentine smallholders. The authors also concluded that the economic and ecological advantages of Bt cotton technology in Argentina could be maintained in the medium to long run, if appropriate insect-resistance management practices are followed.
IMPACTS OF BT CORN EFFECTIVE BUILT-IN PROTECTION REDUCES INSECT DAMAGE AND CAN POSITIVELY AFFECT YIELDS AND GRAIN QUALITY In 2003, Bt maize occupied 9.1 million hectares (22.4 million acres) or 13 percent of the total global biotech crop area of 67.7 million hectares (167.2 million acres). 29 <strong>Monsanto</strong>’s YieldGard Corn Borer corn produces a protein derived from the naturally occurring soil microorganism, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to provide effective built-in protection from major lepidopteran insect pests, including the European corn borer, the southwestern corn borer, and the pink borer. Maize pests cause extensive crop damage worldwide. Global losses due to insect pests are estimated at 52.6 million metric tons, which is equivalent to about 9 percent of the global production of 600 million metric tons. The estimated value of maize insect crop losses is $5.7 billion globally. 29 YieldGard Corn Borer corn has provided superior control of these corn borer pests, which results in greater yields and improved economic returns for growers. 30 Field studies evaluating corn yields in the United States, Argentina, Spain, Germany, South Africa, China, and the Philippines showed yield gains from 5 percent to 40 percent. 29, 30 U.S. studies showed average yield gains of about 5 percent. For Argentina, the average yield gain was from 8 percent to 10 percent in two studies. Studies conducted in Spain showed average yield gains of 5 percent to 11 percent in four studies. Two field trials in Germany indicated average yield gains of 12 percent and 15 percent. South African trials showed a 10 percent average yield gain. Finally, five other field studies in China demonstrated yield gains of 9 percent to 23 percent. One field study in the Philippines reported yield gains of 25 percent to 40 percent. Bt CORN GROWERS AROUND THE WORLD FIND YIELD BENEFITS. Yield impacts depend on regional conditions, levels of pest infestation, and other factors; but the field data show that corn growers usually achieve yield and production gains when they grow Bt corn. YieldGard Corn Borer corn can also improve grain quality by reducing levels of fumonisin mycotoxin in corn grain. By reducing the amount of insect damage to corn ears and grain, YieldGard Corn Borer corn can reduce the points of entry for Fusarium fungi that produce mycotoxins such as fumonisin. Global field trials conducted in multiple trial sites in Europe, Latin America, and the United States confirm lower fumonisin levels in YieldGard Corn Borer corn compared with the conventional corn control without the Bt gene. 31-33 Field analysis comparison trials conducted in the United States in 2001, demonstrated a 47 percent reduction in fumonisin levels with Yieldgard Corn Borer corn compared with conventional non-Bt corn. 34 { MONSANTO COMPANY 2004 PLEDGE REPORT: PAGES 30-31 }
Page 1 and 2: MONSANTO COMPANY 2004 PLEDGE REPORT
Page 3 and 4: needs sustainably. to play an impor
Page 5 and 6: GLOBAL CHALLENGES In this section,
Page 7 and 8: GLOBAL CHALLENGE #1: SUSTAINABILITY
Page 9 and 10: WATERBIRDS ON WORKING LANDS The Nat
Page 11 and 12: GLOBAL CHALLENGE #2: FOOD SECURITY
Page 13 and 14: HELPING SMALLHOLDERS WITH EDUCATION
Page 15 and 16: Under similar drought conditions in
Page 17 and 18: GLOBAL CHALLENGE #3: FOOD FOR THE H
Page 19 and 20: MONSANTO RESEARCHER STUDIES SOY PLA
Page 21 and 22: GLOBAL CHALLENGE #4: CLIMATE AND EN
Page 23 and 24: BIOENERGY — BRINGING FARMERS AND
Page 25 and 26: MONSANTO FUND { PAGE 44 } ahead PEO
Page 27 and 28: Case Study Dialogue Leads to Wheat
Page 29 and 30: others to develop a system that was
Page 31: IMPACTS OF BT COTTON IN CHINA HIGHE
Page 35 and 36: BRINGING OUR VALUES INTO BUSINESS P
Page 37 and 38: Global Adoption of Agricultural Bio
Page 39 and 40: EUROPE NORTH AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA
Page 41 and 42: Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) (ENVIR
Page 43 and 44: A number of Monsanto programs desig
Page 45 and 46: One way that Monsanto is reaching o
Page 47 and 48: HEALTHY CHILDREN, HEALTHY FUTURES O
Page 49 and 50: includes training in irrigation, re
Page 51 and 52: 13 Sachs, J. (2003, October). The m

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