GM Crops Linked to Rise in Pesticide Use

[DUreader]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0108-05.htm


snip


Charles Benbrook, the author of the report, who is also head of the Northwest Science and Environment Policy
Center, at Sandpoint, Idaho, found that when first introduced most of the crops needed up to 25% fewer
chemicals for the first three years, but afterwards significantly more.

In 2001, the report states, 5% more herbicides and insecticides were sprayed compared with crops only of non-GM
varieties; in 2002 7.9% more was sprayed; and in 2003 the estimated rise was 11.5%. In total, £73m more
agrochemicals were sprayed in the US during 2001-2003 because of GM crops, says the report, which was
commissioned by Iowa State University, the Consumers' Union and others.

During 2002-2003, an average of 29% more herbicide was applied per acre on GM maize. But this trend was not
sustained over the eight years. Overall, modest reductions in insecticide usage with maize and cotton were
recorded, with no sign that the pests were starting to build up resistance.

UK farm trials found that two of the three GM crops grown experimentally in Britain, oil seed rape and sugar beet,
were more harmful to the environment than conventional crops but that GM maize allowed the survival of more
weeds and insects. The key to insects' and weeds' survival was the quantity of chemicals used on either
conventional or GM crops.



snip

[NickB79]

1. How does that jive with the quote in the middle of the article?

This one:

"Overall, modest reductions in insecticide usage with maize and cotton were
recorded, with no sign that the pests were starting to build up resistance."

Wouldn't that mean that the GM crops did exactly what they were supposed to do, and didn't create pesticide-resistance pests to boot (this is a major worry of widespread GM crop usage)?

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. 2 'pestcides' - herbicide and insecticide

herbicide (anti-plants) usage is up, insecticide (anti-insects) is down, but by less, so overall usage of pesticide is up.