GM crops offer benefits to farmers and environment, according to global report

There are a lot of positive outcomes from growing genetically modified crops, a new report has found.

UPTAKE of genetically modified crops is booming across the globe, helping to meet increased food demands and improve farm sustainably.

And Australia needs to ensure it is not “held back from reaping the benefits and further cementing its position as a world leader in agricultural innovation.”

That is according to the latest International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications report, which indicated that agricultural biotechnology is continuing to have significant benefits for farmers, communities, consumers, economies and the environment.

For 2019, the report found 190.4 million hectares of GM crops were grown globally, and 71 countries now utilised biotech crops with 29 nations - including 24 developing and five industrial countries, growing GM crops.

This is compared to 26 countries the previous year.

In 2019, Africa doubled the number of biotechnology countries from three to six, according to the report.

And the top five countries with the widest area of biotechnology crops were the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India.

“Double-digit growth rates in biotech crop areas were recorded in developing countries, particularly in Vietnam, the Philippines and Colombia,” the report said.

CropLife Australia chief executive Matthew Cossey said since 1996, GM crops had improved the sustainable use of pesticides and conserved biodiversity by saving about 231 million hectares of land from agricultural production.

“GM crops have lessened poverty for 17 million small hold farmers and their families, in addition to reducing CO2 emissions from agriculture in 2018 by 23 billion kg,” he said.

“There’s no question that GM crops have a positive impact on sustainability and productivity.”

He said the report confirmed why it was important that Australian farmers were able to choose innovative, safe and approved technologies, like GM crops.

“South Australia recently became the last mainland Australian state to embrace this agricultural technology, which means we will see even more environmental and agronomic benefits across Australia, allowing our farming sector to continue to thrive,” Mr Cossey said.

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