Biotech Crops Offer a Possible Remedy for Global Climate Change
October 16th, 2005According to a recently released study, “GM Crops: The Global Socio-Economic and Environmental Impact — The First Nine Years 1996–2004,” biotech crops contributed to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices during that eight-year period. Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics and one of the study’s authors, credited biotech crops’ reduced use of fuel and need for plowing for the decrease. PG Economics is an advisory and consultant company that provides service to agriculture and other natural resource-based industries.
The study found the industrialized nations of the United States and Canada, as well as the developing nations of China, South Africa and Argentina, to have experienced the greatest reductions in the environmental impact of crop production.
Said Brookes, “As the world is increasingly focused on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear biotech crops are already making an important positive contribution to achieving this goal.”
Another stated benefit of genetically modified (GM) crops’ is their inherent resistance to blight, pests and fungus, which reduces or eliminates the need for pesticides.
While reduction of greenhouse gases is a welcome development, especially in light of the recent increase of category 5 hurricanes, GM crops may prove problematic and meet resistance from otherwise anti-global warming and pro-organic organizations such as Green Peace, The Sierra Club and National Resource Defense Council. (Tapia, 10/16/2005)
Leave a Comment