The Farmer's Daughter USA

Hi, I'm Amanda! My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm also a practicing attorney.

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Work with Me
    • Speaking
    • Giveaways
    • Social Media Consulting
    • Sponsored and Guest Posts
  • Gift Shop
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • About Me
    • Media
    • Terms of Use

Study: GM Crops Good for the Environment

August 15, 2013

The feedback I always get from the anti-GMOers is that there are no studies showing GM products are safe or sustainable. Of course nothing could be farther from the truth. GMOs are studies for years and millions of dollars are used to accomplish it. Even once the company perfects it, the FDA requires another 7 years of their own testing to make sure.

But, here’s another study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing that shows the use of Bt crops is actually good for the environment overall. (Refresher: What is Bt corn?)
Without getting all scientific about it, I’ll break it down like this: when we spray pesticides, it isn’t just the bugs eating our crops (“the pests”) that die, but also the other bugs. Left to their own devices, some of those other bugs could be a predator pests. But we have to spray because, without it, we’d have no crop. After the introduction of Bt corn, which certain insects are unable to digest, only the pests die. This leaves those predators to go work in the non-GMO fields and attack the bugs there, thus reducing the overall need for pesticides.
In fact, since the introduction of Bt corn, pesticide use has dropped 50%. 
Now, it doesn’t help with all pests and some of them don’t really have a natural predator that is going to really make a difference. This fact accounts for why the use hasn’t dropped even further. 
The conclusion: 

Broadly speaking, the deployment of Bt crops may favour biocontrol services and enhance economic benefits not only in Bt crop fields but also in the whole agricultural landscape.

So the use of Bt, which is completely safe for human beings, has a side effect of lowering overall pesticide use — which should make the organic folks happy. Don’t get me wrong, the proper use of pesticide application is safe and environmentally compatible, but it’s also costly. Lowering our use of it is a positive if done in a smart way (as compared to just going organic).

Oh, and something foreign to the anti-GMOers, this study actually used scientific principals:

The new research, published in the journal Nature, monitored both insect pests and predators between 1990 and 2011, during which time Bt cotton swept aside traditional GM cotton. It examined 36 sites across six big cotton-growing provinces in northern China, where about 2.6m hectares of cotton and 33m hectares of other crops – notably maize, peanut and soybean – are grown each year, by more than 10 million small-scale farmers.

If you’d like a link to the full study, click here.

signature
Share this:
«
»

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: education, environment, FDA, federal government, GMO, science

Hi, I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney and I'm passionate about agriculture!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Subscribe via Email

Archives

Latest on Twitter

3 days ago
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Sustainable Cotton t.co/UQkfpzlXbG

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
February 1, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Soy & Greenhouse Gas Emissions t.co/RnCHY7Ucwf

  • Reply
  • Retweet 0
  • Like 0
January 26, 2023
Farmers Daughter's Twitter avatar
Farmers Daughter
@farmdaughterusa

Must. Watch. t.co/9AGqt7OsOh

  • Reply
  • Retweet 2
  • Like 9

Latest on Facebook

The Farmer's Daughter

3 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

We use cotton every single day. With the help of technology and science, we can grow it more sustainably than ever.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

6 days ago

The Farmer's Daughter

Don't let anyone tell you that modern agriculture and a healthy ecosystem can't coexist. My latest for AGDAILY

... See MoreSee Less

Farm and butterflies can coexist. Research shows it's not a crazy idea | AGDAILY

www.agdaily.com

Finding ways for modern agriculture and monarch butterflies to coexist may keep these threatened insets off the Endangered Species List.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

1 week ago

The Farmer's Daughter

As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in real sustainability. By the way, one hectare is about 2.5 acres.

... See MoreSee Less


Photo

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter
shared a video from the playlist Kite & Key Originals.

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

How to Feed a Nation

... See MoreSee Less


Video

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

The Farmer's Daughter

2 weeks ago

The Farmer's Daughter

I love agriculture + technology. ☕️

... See MoreSee Less

Can Science Finally Create a Decent Cup of Decaf?

slate.com

Coffee is a moody fellow.

View on Facebook

·
Share



Share on Facebook



Share on Twitter



Share on Linked In



Share by Email

Latest on Instagram

thefarmersdaughterusa

I'm Amanda. My family farms corn and soybeans in Southwest Michigan. I'm an attorney by day, and "agvocate" at night.

Amanda Zaluckyj
We use cotton every single day. With the help of t We use cotton every single day. With the help of technology and science, we can grow it more sustainably than ever.

#cotton #sustainable #sustainability #ecofashion #ecofriendly #modernagriculture #farming #sustainablefarm #sustainableagricuture #sustainableproducts #themoreyouknow
Rent? What's a job? 🤔 #Mischa #labsofinstagram Rent? What's a job? 🤔

#Mischa #labsofinstagram #labs #dogs #dog #dogsofinstagram #puppyproblems #therentistoodamnhigh
As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in re As I've said before, agriculture is a leader in real sustainability. By the way, one hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #soy #soyproduction #tofu #gmosoybeans #gmosoy
Look at that face! #dogs #doggielove #dogsofinst Look at that face! 

#dogs #doggielove #dogsofinstagram #Mischa #doggielove
This is the worst part about January. #holidayblue This is the worst part about January. #holidayblues
Obviously. 💅 #dogs #poutface #Mischa #blacklab Obviously. 💅

#dogs #poutface #Mischa #blacklab #dogsofinstagram #pittiemix #puppyproblems #wfh
For reference, a hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farm For reference, a hectare is about 2.5 acres. #farming #sustainableag #agriculture #sustainableagriculture #farmers #sustainableagriculturepractices #sustainable #agriculturelife #agricultureeducation #farm #farmer #soy #soybeans #soyfarmers
It's 2023. Let's start the new year making sure ev It's 2023. Let's start the new year making sure everyone knows these basic farm facts.

#agriculture #usagriculture #farmers #usfarmers #farming #farmfamilies #sustainableag #sustainableagriculture #sustainable #sustainability #farmerscare #homegrown #localagriculture #knowyourfarmer #shoplocal #madeintheusa #madeintheus #americanagriculture
Why make a resolution you'll break before Wednesda Why make a resolution you'll break before Wednesday? Instead choose a resolution you can accomplish: support farmers! The easiest way to do that is by consuming our products and reminding people to do the same.

Brag about your success: https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-farmers-daughter-usa/

#NewyearGoals #NewYearNewMe #newyear2023
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs

Go to mobile version