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Who benefits from agricultural biotechnology?
You and the environment. When farmers use certain GMO crops, we gain because
- fewer toxic pesticides end up in fields, streams, and drinking water,
- grocery prices are lower, because farmers' costs are lower,
- certain GMO plants are more nutritious than their non-GMO counterparts (e.g., golden rice),
- fewer tropical forests are cut down, because farmers grow more food on less land,
- pest-resistant GMO crops contain fewer natural fungal toxins,
- we could potentially produce crops that contain vaccines or other health-promoting components.
Farmers. It varies by crop, but GMO crops have helped farmers
- use fewer pesticides,
- use less toxic pesticide,
- gain better insect and weed control,
- control pests more selectively, harming fewer non-target pest species,
- gain flexibility in managing crops,
- improve profit margins.
Corporations. When farmers use GMO crops, companies gain through
- increased sales and profits from GMO crops,
- increased sales and profits from certain herbicides.
Additional links (All links below open new windows.)
Purdue Dean: Research is critical for everyone, September 2000 news release
Why use microbes to make proteins? (lesson #9, from Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology)
Why make herbicide-tolerant crops? (lesson #13 from Introduction to Agricultural Biotechnology).