Have you seen After 10 Years of Disaster, a documentary about Bt corn in the Phillipines ? Are you also familiar with the introduction of GE cotton in India and the resulting devastating effects ?

Expert response from Dr. Saturina Halos

Monday, 06/07/2015 21:37

Moderator note: This question will be answered by in parts by multiple experts. This answer addresses claims about GM crops in the Philippines.

Here are some answers about farmer acceptance to GM corn and other socio-economic and environmental concerns about GM corn farming.

•          In the Philippines in 2013, 2.6 million hectares were planted almost equally to white and yellow corn varieties. GM yellow corn was planted to more than 700,000 hectares; more than half the area for yellow corn.
•          Two types of GM corn are planted, Roundup Ready (herbicide tolerant) and stacked Bt/Roundup Ready (Asian corn borer resistant, herbicide tolerant). Seeds of Bt corn were not available in 2013 because farmers prefer the stacked Bt/Roundup Ready product.
•          More than 350,000 small, mostly capital-poor farmers planted GM corn in 2013. More than 90 percent borrow money to cover production cost.
•          Dr. C. Torres and her team at the University of Los Banos conducted a study of GM corn farmers found that 93 percent of those in the survey said they will plant GM corn again, implying that 7 percent are not happy with GM corn.
•          In this Torres et al study (2013), reasons for adopting GM corn were given:
  •     83.4% of respondents said they plant GM corn because it gave them higher yields and higher income,
  •     48.9% because it was resistant to the Asian corn borer,
  •     48.4% because of good product quality,
  •     46.9% because of available financing,
  •     37.7% because of lesser production expense,
  •     32.3% because seeds were available,
  •     28.4% because they were inspired by other farmers,
  •     24.2% because the variety was drought tolerant, and
  •     24.9% because of peace of mind (no worries about the borer. That is, the majority of GM corn farmers are getting higher yields and incomes.)
•          In this same study, 78.7% farmers spend their income from GM corn farming on day-to-day expense, 60.9% use it to send their children to school (mostly university), 46% on home improvements, 23.3% on farm capital, 3.7% on vehicles and 0.5% on leisure. That is, majority of incomes are plowed back in the rural area and more than a half of the farmers are better off since they can afford to send their children to the university.

•          On the other hand, Dr. L. Gonzales, an economist that has been keeping track of GM corn farming in the Philippines since its introduction reported the following in 2014 from his studies:
  •     On the average, planting GM corn is economically advantageous to the farmer.
    •   Average yield advantage of GM corn over ordinary hybrid corn – 19%
    •   Income advantage GM corn over ordinary hybrid  corn – 8%
    •   GM corn higher ROI over ordinary hybrid corn – 42%
  •     GM corn farming is better for the environment than ordinary hybrid corn farming based on the following
    •   Land use efficiency – 15% less land to produce one metric ton w/ GM corn compared with non-GM corn
    •   Fertilizer use efficiency – GM corn farmers 9% more efficient than non-GM corn farmers
    •   Labor use efficiency – GM corn farmers more efficient by 26% than non-GM corn farmers
    •   Pesticide use efficiency – 54% less pesticide use w/GM corn compared with non-GM corn

Expert response from Dr. Saturina Halos

Monday, 06/07/2015 21:37

Moderator note: This question will be answered by in parts by multiple experts. This answer addresses claims about GM crops in the Philippines.

Here are some answers about farmer acceptance to GM corn and other socio-economic and environmental concerns about GM corn farming.

•          In the Philippines in 2013, 2.6 million hectares were planted almost equally to white and yellow corn varieties. GM yellow corn was planted to more than 700,000 hectares; more than half the area for yellow corn.
•          Two types of GM corn are planted, Roundup Ready (herbicide tolerant) and stacked Bt/Roundup Ready (Asian corn borer resistant, herbicide tolerant). Seeds of Bt corn were not available in 2013 because farmers prefer the stacked Bt/Roundup Ready product.
•          More than 350,000 small, mostly capital-poor farmers planted GM corn in 2013. More than 90 percent borrow money to cover production cost.
•          Dr. C. Torres and her team at the University of Los Banos conducted a study of GM corn farmers found that 93 percent of those in the survey said they will plant GM corn again, implying that 7 percent are not happy with GM corn.
•          In this Torres et al study (2013), reasons for adopting GM corn were given:
  •     83.4% of respondents said they plant GM corn because it gave them higher yields and higher income,
  •     48.9% because it was resistant to the Asian corn borer,
  •     48.4% because of good product quality,
  •     46.9% because of available financing,
  •     37.7% because of lesser production expense,
  •     32.3% because seeds were available,
  •     28.4% because they were inspired by other farmers,
  •     24.2% because the variety was drought tolerant, and
  •     24.9% because of peace of mind (no worries about the borer. That is, the majority of GM corn farmers are getting higher yields and incomes.)
•          In this same study, 78.7% farmers spend their income from GM corn farming on day-to-day expense, 60.9% use it to send their children to school (mostly university), 46% on home improvements, 23.3% on farm capital, 3.7% on vehicles and 0.5% on leisure. That is, majority of incomes are plowed back in the rural area and more than a half of the farmers are better off since they can afford to send their children to the university.

•          On the other hand, Dr. L. Gonzales, an economist that has been keeping track of GM corn farming in the Philippines since its introduction reported the following in 2014 from his studies:
  •     On the average, planting GM corn is economically advantageous to the farmer.
    •   Average yield advantage of GM corn over ordinary hybrid corn – 19%
    •   Income advantage GM corn over ordinary hybrid  corn – 8%
    •   GM corn higher ROI over ordinary hybrid corn – 42%
  •     GM corn farming is better for the environment than ordinary hybrid corn farming based on the following
    •   Land use efficiency – 15% less land to produce one metric ton w/ GM corn compared with non-GM corn
    •   Fertilizer use efficiency – GM corn farmers 9% more efficient than non-GM corn farmers
    •   Labor use efficiency – GM corn farmers more efficient by 26% than non-GM corn farmers
    •   Pesticide use efficiency – 54% less pesticide use w/GM corn compared with non-GM corn