The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm
ISBN: , SKU: , AUTHOR: Committee on the ong>Impactong> ong>ofong> Biotechnology on Farm-Level Econo / National Research Council, PUBLISHER: National Academies Press, Since genetically engineered (GE) crops were introduced in , their use in the United States has grown rapidly, accounting for percent ong>ofong> soybean, corn, and cotton acreage in . To date, crops with traits that provide resistance to some herbicides and to specific insect pests have benefited adopting farmers by reducing crop losses to insect damage, by increasing flexibility in time management, and by facilitating the use ong>ofong> more environmentally friendly pesticides and tillage practices. However, excessive reliance on a single technology combined with a lack ong>ofong> diverse farming practices could undermine the economic and environmental gains from these GE crops. Other challenges could hinder the application ong>ofong> the technology to a broader spectrum ong>ofong> crops and uses. Several reports from the National Research Council have addressed the effects ong>ofong> GE crops on the environment and on human health. However, "The ong>Impactong> ong>ofong> Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States" is the first comprehensive assessment ong>ofong> the environmental, economic, and social ong>impactong>s ong>ofong> the GE-crop revolution on U.S. farms. It addresses how GE crops have affected U.S. farmers, both adopters and nonadopters ong>ofong> the technology, their incomes, agronomic practices, production decisions, environmental resources, and personal well-being. The book ong>ofong>fers several new findings and four recommendations that could be useful to farmers, industry, science organizations, policy makers, and others in government agencies.