Pros and Cons of GMO Crop Farming

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rene Van Acker ◽  
Motior Rahman ◽  
S. Zahra H. Cici
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Herbicide Tolerance ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Gm Crop ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Crop Area ◽  
And Control

The global area sown to genetically modified (GM) varieties of leading commercial crops (soybean, maize, canola, and cotton) has expanded over 100-fold over two decades. Thirty countries are producing GM crops and just five countries (United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India) account for almost 90% of the GM production. Only four crops account for 99% of worldwide GM crop area. Almost 100% of GM crops on the market are genetically engineered with herbicide tolerance (HT), and insect resistance (IR) traits. Approximately 70% of cultivated GM crops are HT, and GM HT crops have been credited with facilitating no-tillage and conservation tillage practices that conserve soil moisture and control soil erosion, and that also support carbon sequestration and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Crop production and productivity increased significantly during the era of the adoption of GM crops; some of this increase can be attributed to GM technology and the yield protection traits that it has made possible even if the GM traits implemented to-date are not yield traits per se. GM crops have also been credited with helping to improve farm incomes and reduce pesticide use. Practical concerns around GM crops include the rise of insect pests and weeds that are resistant to pesticides. Other concerns around GM crops include broad seed variety access for farmers and rising seed costs as well as increased dependency on multinational seed companies. Citizens in many countries and especially in European countries are opposed to GM crops and have voiced concerns about possible impacts on human and environmental health. Nonetheless, proponents of GM crops argue that they are needed to enhance worldwide food production. The novelty of the technology and its potential to bring almost any trait into crops mean that there needs to remain dedicated diligence on the part of regulators to ensure that no GM crops are deregulated that may in fact pose risks to human health or the environment. The same will be true for the next wave of new breeding technologies, which include gene editing technologies.

scholarly journals Perception and Attitude toward GM Technology among Agribusiness Managers in China as Producers and as Consumers

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haiyan Deng ◽  
Ruifa Hu ◽  
Carl Pray ◽  
Yanhong Jin
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Special Interest Groups ◽  
Business Managers ◽  
Food Crop ◽  
Major Barrier ◽  
Gm Crop ◽  
Gm Food ◽  
Food Crop Production

China is one of the biggest consumers of genetically modified (GM) products, importing maize, soybeans and canola, and producing GM cotton. The cultivation of GM food crop, however, is still not permitted. Many studies argue that consumers’ attitude toward GM food safety is a major barrier to GM food crop production in China. Recent studies suggest that special interest groups such as biotechnology scientists with an economic interest in biotechnology are more supportive of the technology than groups with nothing to gain. Others believe that agribusiness groups influence the debate about GM food production. This is the first study that examined agribusiness managers’ attitudes toward GM biosafety and their support for GM crop production. The sample was 160 firms in the seed, pesticide, feed and food processing industries. We found most agribusiness leaders are concerned about GM food consumption and oppose GM crop production. Using regression models, we found business managers’ attitudes toward GM crop cultivation are more supportive if they expect to profit, if they are already using GM crops in their firm or are doing research on GM crops.

scholarly journals Research and development of genetically engineered soybean using insect-resistance genes derived from Bacillus thuringiensis

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Le Thi Thu Hien ◽  
Pham Le Bich Hang ◽  
Nguyen Tuong Van ◽  
Le Thi Minh Thanh ◽  
Dao Thi Hang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽  
Insect Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Herbicide Tolerance ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Pests And Diseases ◽  
Good Ability ◽  
The World

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the crops which have high economic value and serve for food, feed and process of many countries around the world. However, there are many factors affecting the productivity of soybean, of which insect pests and diseases are the most harmful agents. Therefore, an application of biotechnology to transfer insect resistance genes derived from a species of bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis can contribute to increase soybean yield and significantly reducing pesticide use. Currently, there are many insecticidal proteins detected from B. thuringiensis such as Cry, Cyt and Vip with a broad and specific spectrum belonged to several orders Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Homopera, and Nematoda. Numerous studies have been implemented over the world to transfer genes encoding these proteins in combination or modified forms to increase their toxicity. Several events of genetically engineered soybean with stacked traits of insect resistance and herbicide tolerance are commercialized and approved to be cultured in many countries such as MON 87701 × MON 89788 or DAS-81419-2. In Vietnam, studies on genetically engineered soybean with insect resistance trait has been carried out. Moreover, the exploitation, screening and selection of high biodiversity and indigenous B. thuringiensis strains which habors specific genes capable of killing targeted insects and serve as materials for plant transformation are great scientific meaning and potential practical application. This will be an important source of materials to create many soybean cultivars with good ability of insect resistance in order to meet specific needs.

The use of conservation tillage in an agro-intensive region: results from a survey of farmers in Scania, Sweden

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sofia Hydbom ◽  
Johanna Alkan Olsson ◽  
Pål Axel Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Practical Knowledge ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Reduced Tillage ◽  
Crop Species ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Labor Requirements

AbstractConventional agricultural practices can lead to soil erosion and a reduction in soil organic carbon (SOC) content. It has been suggested that less intensive agricultural practices, such as conservation tillage (including no-till and reduced till without soil inversion) may reduce both erosion and loss of SOC. The aim of this study was to determine whether, and why, conservation tillage is used in Scania, which is one of the most agro-intensive regions in Sweden. We also investigated how information on tillage practices is obtained, why one type of tillage may be favored over another, and whether some farmers are more likely to use conservation tillage. The result of this study will benefit policy makers and researchers by pinpointing factors that influence the use of conservation tillage. To collect data, a questionnaire was sent to farmers in Scania in 2016. We found that the majority of the responding farmers used conservation tillage, and that it was more likely to be used if the farmer was highly educated and spent more than 50% of their annual working time on crop production. The use of conservation tillage was also more common if the farm was large and clay soil dominated. Crop rotation was often highlighted as the most important factor influencing the choice of tillage practice, which may be due to crop species requirements. When asked to compare the consequences of reduced tillage and plowing, the perception of farmers using conservation tillage was in general more positive, indicating skepticism toward the practice of reduced tillage until it had been tried. We show that the use of conservation tillage, sometimes in combination with plowing, is widespread in Scania. However, unless changes in, for example, crop rotation and labor requirements occur, the use of conservation tillage will most likely remain the same as today, or only increase slightly in the near future. Farm enlargement may result in an increased conservation tillage use, and so may efforts to educate advisors, increased opportunities for peer-to-peer meetings, and the development of economically viable small farm solutions. Increased conservation tillage may be part of the solution for sustainable crop production, but drawbacks such as increased pesticide use must be addressed further, as well as factors such as crop rotation development and practical knowledge that influence conservation tillage use at the farm level.

Coexistence of Genetically Modified Crops with Conventional and Organic Agriculture in the European Union

Global Jurist ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Chiarabolli
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Food Safety ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Genetically Modified ◽  
Genetically Modified Crops ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Gm Crop

The objective of the research is to analyse the way the European Union is addressing the issue of the coexistence between traditional, organic, and GM crops.In the European Union no form of agriculture, whether conventional, organic, GM, should be excluded. Farmers are free to choose the production type they prefer, without being forced to change patterns already established in the area, and without spending more resources.Today EU rules on genetically modified crops are very rigid; in particular, before starting a GM crops commercial cultivation, it is compulsory to obtain a specific European Commission authorisation (based on a safety risk assessment carried out by the European Food Safety Authority), and GM food and feed (threshold 0,9%) must be labeled (to inform consumers) and traced.Coexistence is the weak point of the European legislation in the field. The European Commission defines the term coexistence as the farmers’ ability to make a practical choice between conventional, organic and GM-crop production, in compliance with the legal obligations for labeling and/or purity standards. In simple terms, coexistence is a way of allowing farmers to choose between the three agricultural systems. Farmers’ choice to grow GM or non-GM crops depends not only on technical aspects related to the productivity gains and agronomic benefits to be gained from adopting this technology, but also on consumers’ preferences. Particularly in Europe, consumers continue to be concerned about the potentially adverse implications of widespread GM crop production for the environment and food safety. According to Directive 2001/18/EC (Article 26 bis), Member States may organise measures to avoid the unadventitious presence of GMOs in other non-GM products. In order to help the Member States to organise national coexistence measures, the European Commission adopted the Recommendation 2003/556/EC on the guidelines for the development of national strategies and best practices to ensure the coexistence of genetically modified crops with conventional and organic farming. The act establishes that the approaches to coexistence need to be developed in a transparent way, based on technical guidelines and in co-operation with all stakeholders concerned. The guidelines are based on experiences with existing segregation practices and, at the same time, they ensure an equitable balance between the interests of farmers of all production types. Further, they state that management measures to ensure coexistence should be efficient and cost-effective, without going beyond what is necessary to comply with EU threshold levels for GMO labeling. Today it is accepted that total isolation of GM material, certainly once agricultural biotechnology is widespread in the EU, is impossible; coexistence focuses on the practices used to decrease the adventitious GM presence. The implementation of coexistence measures is a complex process owing to the diversity in field, farming and natural conditions extending over Europe.On 13 July 2010, the European Commission adopted a new coexistence package that consists of a coexistence Communication, a new Recommendation on co-existence of GM crops with conventional and/or organic crops, and a draft Regulation proposing a change to the GMO legislation. The new approach aims to achieve the right balance between maintaining an EU authorisation system and the freedom for Member States to decide on GMO cultivation in their territory. The new flexible European scenario will give to the Member States the possibility to decide whether to cultivate biotech crops, maintaining at the same time an EU wide science-based authorization system.

scholarly journals Aplikasi Teknik Rekayasa Genetik dalam Perbaikan Sumber Daya Genetik Tanaman untuk Ketahanan Cekaman Biotik

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
M. Herman
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Engineering ◽  
Genetic Resources ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Plant Genetic Resources ◽  
Herbicide Tolerance ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Parasitic Nematodes ◽  
Scirpophaga Incertulas ◽  
Great Opportunity

<p>The main constraint encountered in the<br />utilization of plant genetic resources (PGR) in agriculture are<br />biotic stresses such as insect pests, plant diseases, and plant<br />parasitic nematodes. The application of genetic engineering<br />techniques create a great opportunity for crops improvements<br />particularly for insect and plant diseases resistance. Through<br />genetic engineering, genetically engineered (GE) crops have<br />been developed, of which having the new traits such as resistance<br />to insect pests, plant diseases, and herbicide tolerance.<br />GE crops are already widely grown and marketed in many<br />countries. Globally, GE crops that are commercialized consists<br />of four categories of traits, which are insect resistance (IR),<br />herbicide tolerance, (HT), the combined traits of IR and HT<br />(stacked genes), and virus resistance. Initially, GE crops had<br />been commercialized globally covering 1.7 million ha in 1996,<br />and the cropping area increased rapidly to reach about 134<br />million ha in 2009. Indonesia is known as a country rich in<br />PGR, that have very high value. One of environmentally<br />friendly technologies that can be applied in the utilization of<br />PGR in Indonesia, is genetic engineering. In Indonesia,<br />research on plant genetic engineering had started since 1997.<br />Commodities that are being researched to develop GE plants<br />limited on rice, potatoes and tomatoes. GE rice resistant to<br />stem borer (Scirpophaga incertulas), GE potato resistant to<br />late blight (Phytophthora infestans), and GE tomato resistant<br />to tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) and cucumber<br />mosaic virus (CMV) have been successfully developed by<br />Research Center for Biotechnology of Indonesian Institute of<br />Science and Indonesian Center for Agricultural Biotechnology<br />and Genetic Resources Research and Development<br />(ICABIOGRAD). Those GE crops have been tested for their<br />resistance at the screenhouses, green houses of the biosafety<br />containment, and confined field trial.</p>

scholarly journals A Welfare Analysis on GM Crop Market Structures and Existing Regulations

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Lee ◽  
Aaron Giesbrecht
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Discussion Section ◽  
Gm Crop ◽  
Agricultural Industry ◽  
Market Structures ◽  
Efficiency Cost ◽  
Economic Understanding

Since their introduction in 1994, genetically modified (GM) crops have become a major sector of the agricultural industry in developing and developed countries. Despite this, many economic concerns have arisen regarding how governments regulate GM crops. These concerns have caused countries to ban GM crop usage, which has proven to be detrimental for national and international economies. This paper outlines the economic advantages of GM crop production and usage and surveys the current inefficiencies in the regulation of GM crops through a review on existing literature. It notes the increased farming efficiency, cost effectiveness, and rise in income for developing countries resulting from GM crop production and usage. It then considers why many of the listed potential benefits are unrealized, particularly due to the excessive market power given to GM seed producers, high barriers of entry into the GM market due to biosafety procedures, utility patents, and international trade asymmetries. Finally, the discussion section of the paper poses potential solutions by describing methods to efficiently regulate GM crops and suggesting possible areas of further research. The objective of this paper is to inform readers with minimal economic understanding of the potential economic benefits of GM crops and aid them in recognizing the optimal ways to regulate them.

scholarly journals Effect of Tillage Treatments of Hairy Vetch Residues on Soil Inorganic-N Distributions and Corn Growth in a Subtropical Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Fajri Anugroho ◽  
Makoto Kitou
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
N Uptake ◽  
Middle Layer ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
No Tillage ◽  
Hairy Vetch ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
N Content ◽  
Tillage Practices

Conservation tillage has many advantages in crop production and weed control management. N-residue of hairy vetch as a green manure cover crop through tillage and no-tillage practices may increase inorganic-N level in soils and contribute to sustainable agriculture. Prior to corn cultivation, hairy vetch was cut after growing in the pots for 103 days. Six treated soils were prepared for no-tillage treatments (SRN, RN, and CN) and for tillage treatments (SRT, RT, and CT), where the soils were treated by shoot and root of hairy vetch residues, only root residues, and without application of hairy vetch as a control, respectively. Seeds of corn (Zea mays L.) were sown and grown for 56 days after sowing. The shoot and root biomasses of corn under no-tillage were higher than those of tillage. Furthermore, the shoot biomass of corn in both SRN and SRT were higher than that in other treatments. The root biomass of corn was higher in upper layers (0–5 cm depth) and deeper layers (>10 cm depth) than in middle layers (5–10 cm depth) of soils. In the upper layer, the NH4-N contents of no-tillage were higher at 9 and 23 DAT than those of tillage. The NH4-N content of the soils for no-tillage in the middle layer and the deeper layer was lower than that of the CT treatment. The NO3-N content of no-tillage in the middle and deeper layers was lower than that of CT at 23 and 65 DAT. N-uptake of corn in both no-tillage and tillage treatments with hairy vetch addition was higher than that of the control.

The effects of nitrogen, row spacing and seeding rate on the yield of flax under a zero-till production system

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Lafond
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Conservation Tillage ◽  
Row Spacing ◽  
Continuous Cropping ◽  
Seeding Rate ◽  
Tillage Practices ◽  
Linum Usitatissimum L ◽  
Design Cost

The long-term sustainability of agriculture requires that soil degradation be addressed and that crop production systems that incorporate the benefits of surface residues and standing stubble through conservation tillage practices be evaluated critically. The objective was to study the effects of nitrogen, row spacing and seeding rate on the yield of flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) under zero-till production practices. Three row spacings, six seeding rates and two rates of nitrogen were investigated. The plots were directly seeded into barley stubble under a continuous cropping zero-till production system. When yield levels were > 1200 kg ha−1, yields were not significantly affected by row spacing, but when yield levels were < 1200 kg ha−1, the 20-cm row spacing was favored over the 10- or 30-cm spacings. Yields increased linearly with increase in seeding rate at all row spacings. There were no interactions observed between nitrogen, row spacing and seeding rate. The results of this study have important implications in terms of equipment design, cost for zero-till seeding equipment, and the opportunity to easily modify existing equipment for zero-till seeding. Key words: Plant establishment, plant height, zero till, yield

The Power of the Seed: Timing, Quick Structural Change, and Genetically Modified Crop Regulations in the Andes

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-561
Author(s):  
Eduardo Dargent ◽  
Madai Urteaga
Keyword(s):  
Structural Change ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Gm Crop ◽  
Crop Cultivation ◽  
The Andes ◽  
The World ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Andean Countries ◽  
Regulatory Measures

Regulation concerning GM crops around the world range from total prohibition to full openness and state-wide promotion. The Andean countries in Latin America provide an interesting setting to analyze the possible causes for this variation. Despite having similar conditions to plant GM crops, Colombia and Bolivia allow GM crop cultivation, while Ecuador and Peru do not. Interestingly, Evo Morales, Bolivia's leftist president, could not ban GM crop production, and Alan Garcia (2006–2011) in Peru, despite his pro-GM stance, failed to adopt a permissive regulation. We argue that two factors explain these divergent outcomes regarding GM seed sowing and reform efforts in Andean countries: (i) the time in which regulatory measures were attempted, and (ii) the quick structural change that GM seeds generate once introduced into a country.

scholarly journals Transgenic plants: Risks, Concerns and Effects on Ecosystem and Human Health

1970 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad S Islam ◽  
Siddique Ali Miah
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Manipulation ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Toxic Substance ◽  
Chloroplast Transformation ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Gm Crops ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Oral Vaccines ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Gm Crop

The review portrays the current status of transgenic crops in the backdrop of sharply divided opinion of anti-GM group vis-à-vis those who advocate that genetically engineered crops do not pose any threat to human or animal health nor does it disrupt the environment through introduction of superweeds. While acknowledging the concern of anti-GM activists, the article supports the view of NE Borlaug who sees no difference between the birth of a genetically complex crop such as hexaploid bread wheat and a bioengineered crop except that the former occurs in mother nature and the latter in the laboratory through genetic manipulation by molecular breeders. The article brings into focus that the methods now being employed to bring about genetic change in crops are safer as the use of antibiotic markers have been replaced by biolistic mode of gene delivery or use of chemicals such as mannose 6-phosphate marker. The article also points out that the chances of birth of ‘superweeds' destroying the environment will be minimized, if genetic transformation is brought about using chloroplasts. Another important role of biotechnology that is expected to be realized soon is its use in commercial production of oral vaccines for both humans and animals. The article mentions of some of the recent gene discovery such as genes for submergence tolerance in rice or genes that minimizes allergenicity in peanuts. Production of rice varieties capable of withstanding flood will dramatically increase rice yield in flood-prone countries and peanut lines with minimum or no allergen will be welcome in the consumer market where a sizeable portion of people suffer from peanut allergy. The article emphasizes the fact that every GM crop must be subject to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that it is free from any allergen, or hazardous toxic substance and that it is environmentally safe. The article supports the idea that in Europe GM crops with built-in terminator gene and traditional crops may coexist; i.e., may be planted in the same area as the European farmers buy their seeds every year unlike their counterparts in Asia and Africa. Finally the article recommends that the selected GM crops should be grown in the developing countries where the option before the resource-poor population lies between going without food or fall prey to the misinformation of anti-GM activists.Key words: GM Crops, Anti-GM activists, Coexistence, Superweed, Chloroplast Transformation, Oral vaccines, Golden rice, Biosafety, Food securityDOI = 10.3329/ptcb.v16i2.1114Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 16(2): 139-164, 2006 (December)

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