Although it is possible that transgenic crops could harm the environment, there are many environmental benefits to the widespread farming of transgenic crops. Even those wary of genetic engineering concede that "many applications of genetic engineering in agriculture and forestry will probably have neutral or beneficial environmental consequences." [1] These benefits all stem from the fact that plants can presently be genetically engineered to survive hazards such as disease, herbicides, and pests, and can also make better use of their nutrients.

Firstly, since transgenic crops enable each acre of land to be more productive (in terms of food output), less new land will have to be cleared to meet higher production goals. This will keep the natural ecosystem intact and ensure consistent levels of biodiversity. [2] A fewer number of species will be harmed, less energy will be used, and less CO2 will be released as we preserve our present farmland boundaries.

Specific genetically engineered crops can themselves have beneficial effects on the ecosystem. YieldGard Corn (a registered trademark of Monsanto Company) is a good example of this. Currently, total insecticide use for ECB (European corn borer) control in the 16 major corn producing states in the United States was 1.5 million pounds (0.7 million kg) annually. If just 80% of corn farmland in these states converted to YieldGard corn, or a similar strain, the result would be an annual reduction of 1.2 million pounds (0.54 million kg) of insecticides. This is clearly beneficial to the environment: not only does this reduce contamination of the ground and air from pesticides, but it also allows for beneficial insects, such as bees, to flourish because their prey, pest insects, will not be wiped out in one fell swoop. Furthermore, YieldGard corn is more efficient in its use of nitrogen, resulting in less nitrogen being released to the soil. This leads to lower groundwater contamination from nitrogen. Also, because insecticide use will be curtailed, there will be a reduction in fuel for transportation of insecticides and a reduction in raw materials for packaging insecticides. The reduction in fuel will amount to a conservation of over 9 million gallons (34 million litres) of fuel as Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis ) corn becomes adopted in the United States. Finally, YieldGard corn can be left out longer in the field to dry than ordinary corn, which has to be artificially dried. This will save about 67 million gallons (254 million litres) of fuel annually. [3]

Another benefit of transgenic crops is that they can be manufactured to be herbicide tolerant, meaning that they can withstand certain chemicals that are used for weed control. This benefits the environment by giving farmers the option of using more environment-friendly herbicides, as well as reducing the quantity of herbicides and other agricultural additives needed to grow crops. [4]

One instance in which transgenic crops were shown to have a beneficial impact on the environment was in 1996, when bollworm infestation was inordinately high in the United States. That year, 1.8 million acres (13% of the total U.S. cotton crop) were planted with Bollgard® cotton, a transgenic strain of cotton that is resistant to bollworms and budworms. Despite the abnormally high levels of bollworm infestation in 1996, 60% of farmers who planted Bollgard® cotton had no need for insecticides, and most of the other 40% needed only one application. Those who did not plant the Bollgard® variety of cotton, however, had to spray insecticide an average of six times. An estimated 250,000 gallons of insecticide was not used because Bollgard® cotton was on the market. [4]

Another proven example in which transgenic crops benefitted the environment was the Roundup Ready® soybean phenomenon of 1996. (Roundup is a widely used herbicide.) Farmers used anywhere from 9% to 39% less total herbicide in fields of Roundup Ready® soybeans than in fields of conventional soybeans. 75% of farmers who used Roundup Ready® soybeans used only one application, 24% made two applications, and only 1% made three or more. Also, 80% of farmers who planted Roundup Ready® canola used only one application of Roundup. [4]

A final environmental benefit of transgenic crops is that crops can be made to resist plant diseases, allowing farmers to use less chemical spray to control the spread of the disease. Since the chemicals used in controlling plant virus disease can often pollute the air and soil, the less that is used, the better off the environment is. [ 5]

References:

1. Palma, Pedro Moran and Snow, Allison A. "Commercialization of Transgenic Plants: Potential Ecological Risks," Bioscience, 47 (2) Feb. 1997.

2. Khush, Gurdev. "Gene Revolution or Green Revolution?" IRRI: Phillippines. URL http://binas.unido.org/binas/Conference/Khush.htm (accessed 12/11/1999)

3. "Environmental Benefits of YieldGuard Corn," Monsanto Company 1999. URL http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto/mediacenter/background/Ygbenef.html (accessed 12/11/1999)

4. "Environmental Benefits of Crops Developed through Biotechnology," Monsanto Company 1997. URL http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto/mediacenter/background/97jul_EnvBenefits.html (Accessed 12/11/1999)

5. "Food Biotechnology: Health and Harvest for Our Times," International Food Information Council, Sept. 1994. URL http://www.biotechknowledge.com/showlib_biotech.php3?309 (Accessed 12/11/1999)

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