Elevating the conversation about GE crops

Amasino, Richard M.; Brossard, Dominique; Buell, C. Robin; Dixon, Richard A.; Falck-Zepeda, José Benjamin; Gallo, Michael A.; Glenna, Leland; Griffin, Timothy S.; Hamaker, Bruce R.; Kareiva, Peter; Magraw, Daniel; Mallory‐Smith, Carol; Pixley, K.V.; Ransom, Elizabeth; Rodemeyer, Michael; Stelly, David M.; Stewart, C. Neal; Whitaker, Robert J.

doi:10.1038/nbt.3841

Cited by 11 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In addition, although interviewed farmers could improve their knowledge, reduce their health risks and lower their dependency on external funding, the application of organic farming methods often resulted in a higher workload, especially for women. This confirms studies on organic farming in Karnataka, India (Patil et al, 2014), as well as in other parts of the world (Bachmann, 2012; Gould et al, 2016).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Making compost, the preparation of liquid manure, treatment of seeds and preparing bio-pesticides are necessary farming practices in organic agriculture. These farming practices entail an increased workload for farmers, which has been confirmed in other regions of India (Eyhorn et al, 2007), as well as other countries (Bachmann, 2012; Gould et al, 2016). Nevertheless, many farmers indicated that avoiding expensive agrochemicals and the possibility of an independent supply of manure and bio-pesticide outweighed the higher workload.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Lack of high-quality food crop seeds and seasonal food insecurity , as well as other constraints on farmers’ well-being, were also revealed in the interviews. The limited access to high-quality seeds remains challenging for smallholder farmers all over the world, especially as seed distribution and research does not take into account cultural and environmental aspects (Gould et al, 2016). Despite better access to food crop seeds through the organic intervention, some difficulties still persist.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social, economic and environmental impacts of organic cotton production on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Odisha, India

Altenbuchner

Vogel

Larcher

2017

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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Cotton is an important source of income for smallholder farmers in India, usually grown very intensively. To counteract negative impacts of cotton cultivation in India, such as environmental degradation and financial dependency due to high input costs, organic cotton cultivation is being promoted by non-governmental organizations in the country. This study examines how the conversion to organic cotton cultivation influences the livelihood of smallholder farmers in rural India. Interviews with organic farmers were conducted in Odisha, India, complemented by expert interviews and observations in the field. Results show that farmers profit from organic agriculture, mainly due to soil improvements, through reduced exposure to toxic chemicals and lower input costs, which in turn reduces dependency on money lenders. Organic agriculture enables smallholder farmers in the study region to improve their livelihood by providing access to training and by organizing in groups. Important social impacts identified in this study were capacity building and strengthened communities, through training and institution building. However, a higher workload, due to the higher work intensity of organic farming practices, was also observed, with this impacting women more than men. Environmental conditions and gender aspects still remain challenging.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social, economic and environmental impacts of organic cotton production on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Odisha, India

Altenbuchner

Vogel

Larcher

2017

Renew. Agric. Food Syst.

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“…Genetically engineered crops that produce insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized pest control and were planted on over 100 million hectares worldwide in 2017 [1]. These transgenic Bt crops can suppress pests, reduce insecticide use, and increase farmer profits [2,3,4,5,6]. However, adaptation of insect pests to Bt toxins has reduced these benefits [7,8,9,10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of Asian Corn Borer Resistance to Bt Toxins Used Singly or in Pairs

Wang

Quan

Yang

et al. 2019

Toxins

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Transgenic crops producing insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) have revolutionized pest control, but the benefits of this approach have been reduced by the evolution of resistance in pests. The widely adopted ’pyramid strategy’ for delaying resistance entails transgenic crops producing two or more distinct toxins that kill the same pest. The limited experimental evidence supporting this strategy comes primarily from a model system under ideal conditions. Here we tested the pyramid strategy under nearly worst-case conditions, including some cross-resistance between the toxins in the pyramid. In a laboratory selection experiment with an artificial diet, we used Bt toxins Cry1Ab, Cry1F, and Cry1Ie singly or in pairs against Ostrinia furnacalis, one of the most destructive pests of corn in Asia. Under the conditions evaluated, pairs of toxins did not consistently delay the evolution of resistance relative to single toxins.

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“…To address the risk of insect resistance, IRM programs have been proactively implemented wherever Bt crops have been commercialized, with these programs being mandatory in some countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, the EU, the Philippines and South Africa (Matten et al, 2008). Central to these IRM programs is the concept of a “refuge,” which is an area of plants (typically of the crop of interest) that do not contain any Bt protein and thereby support the production of Bt-susceptible insects (Gould, 1998; Gould et al, 2016). Refuges represent a short-term cost to growers because they incur greater pest damage and require additional management, and thus refuge adoption by growers is generally much higher in countries where IRM is a regulatory requirement e.g., Australia, Canada and the US.…”

Section: Opportunities and Challenges For Using Bt Crops In Ipmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetically Engineered Crops: Importance of Diversified Integrated Pest Management for Agricultural Sustainability

Anderson

Ellsworth

Faria

et al. 2019

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

114

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As the global population continues to expand, utilizing an integrated approach to pest management will be critically important for food security, agricultural sustainability, and environmental protection. Genetically engineered (GE) crops that provide protection against insects and diseases, or tolerance to herbicides are important tools that complement a diversified integrated pest management (IPM) plan. However, despite the advantages that GE crops may bring for simplifying the approach and improving efficiency of pest and weed control, there are also challenges for successful implementation and sustainable use. This paper considers how several GE traits, including those that confer protection against insects by expression of proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), traits that confer tolerance to herbicides, and RNAi-based traits that confer resistance to viral pathogens, can be key elements of a diversified IPM plan for several different crops in both developed and developing countries. Additionally, we highlight the importance of community engagement and extension, strong partnership between industry, regulators and farmers, and education and training programs, for achieving long-term success. By leveraging the experiences gained with these GE crops, understanding the limitations of the technology, and considering the successes and failures of GE traits in IPM plans for different crops and regions, we can improve the sustainability and versatility of IPM plans that incorporate these and future technologies.

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Elevating the conversation about GE crops

Abstract: Journal article; EditorialIFPRI3; ISIEPTDNon-P

Cited by 11 publications

References 2 publications

Social, economic and environmental impacts of organic cotton production on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Odisha, India

Social, economic and environmental impacts of organic cotton production on the livelihood of smallholder farmers in Odisha, India

Evolution of Asian Corn Borer Resistance to Bt Toxins Used Singly or in Pairs

Genetically Engineered Crops: Importance of Diversified Integrated Pest Management for Agricultural Sustainability

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