Biotech crops contribute to reducing the environmental impact of productive agriculture, thereby increasing global food security without the need for increased land clearance.
Insect resistant crops offer an alternative to chemical inputs on some crops and have allowed development of more targeted, flexible, effective and sustainable integrated pest management programmes. Biotech applications in the R&D pipeline (disease resistant, drought and stress tolerant crops) offer additional opportunities to increase global food security while further reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.
The database contains 186 papers that have been identified as having information on Environmental Benefits of Biotechnology.
In 1950, the world population was 2.5 billion people. It is currently 7 billion, and projections are that it will reach 9 billion by 2050. It is estimated that the world needs at least 70% more food by 2050. Improvements in agricultural practices and technologies have achieved huge successes in helping to meet the food, feed and fibre needs of this growing population. However, by its very nature, agriculture is disruptive to the environment, and much work and research is now taking place to limit and decrease the "environmental footprint" it leaves.
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Biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2009) by 393 million kg (-8.7%) and as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on the area planted to biotech crops by 17.1%.
From 1996 to 2009, biotech crops contributed to sustainability and climate change by: 1) increasing crop production and value to US$65 billion, 2) providing a better environment by saving 393 million kilogram active ingredients of pesticides, 3) in 2009 reducing CO2 emissions by 18 billion kilograms, equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road, 4) conserving biodiversity by saving 75 million ha. of land, and 5) helping alleviate poverty by assisting 14.4 million small farmers, among the poorest people in the world.
New biotech applications in the R&D pipeline, such as drought and stress tolerant crops, offer additional opportunities to get the most out of the land we cultivate and to increase global food security, while at the same time protecting the environment.
Biotech crops help to reduce the environmental impact of productive agriculture in several ways. Biotech crops have helped reduce the use of pesticides for several economically important crops, contributing to reductions in fuel, water and packaging that are eliminated from the manufacturing, distribution and application processes.
Biotech crops assist in bringing higher yields per hectare, making farming more efficient and productive on limited land area. Habitat destruction is the biggest single threat to biodiversity. Higher yields mean farmers can produce increasing amounts of food without increasing arable land and this has a major impact on protecting wildlife habitats.
Herbicide tolerant crops are great enablers of zero-tillage agriculture, a substantial contributor to sustainable agriculture. Zero-tillage means sowing seed directly into the field, without first ploughing to remove weeds. By leaving the soil undisturbed, more moisture is retained, which is good for water conservation. Other indirect benefits of zero-tillage are improved conservation of beneficial soil insects and earth worms. By using fewer fuel powered agricultural machines, carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere are decreased and fossil fuels are conserved. Less tractor traffic also causes indirect benefits to soil quality, and hence a reduced contribution towards global warming.
According to croplife