G.M.O.s Were Supposed
to Increase Crop Yields
Canada and Western Europe grow different varieties of rapeseed (canola), but Canadian farmers have adopted genetically modified seed, while European farmers have not. Still, the long-term yield trend for both areas is up.
hectograms per hectare*
50,000
Rapeseed crop yield
40,000
Trend line
30,000
G.M.O.s not used
WESTERN EUROPE
Annual figures
20,000
G.M.O.s used
CANADA
Genetically modified varieties
introduced in North America
0
’85
’90
’95
’00
’05
’10
’14
The New York Times|Sources: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Note: Western Europe is France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria.
In the last three decades, corn yields in Western Europe have largely kept pace with those in the United States.
120,000
hectograms per hectare*
G.M.O.s used
UNITED STATES
Corn crop yield
100,000
80,000
G.M.O.s not used
WESTERN EUROPE
Genetically modified varieties introduced in the U.S.
40,000
20,000
0
’85
’90
’95
’00
’05
’10
’14
The New York Times|Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Note: Western Europe is France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Austria.
Meanwhile, in the last decade sugar beet yields in Western Europe have increased more sharply than those in the United States.
1,000,000
hectograms per hectare*
G.M.O.s not used
Sugar beet crop yield
WESTERN EUROPE
800,000
600,000
G.M.O.s used
UNITED STATES
400,000
Genetically modified varieties introduced in the U.S.
200,000
0
’05
’10
’14
The New York Times|Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations | Note: Genetic modification penetration reached 95 percent by 2010, according to the United States Dept. of Agriculture.
G.M.O.s Were Supposed
to Lessen Pesticide Use
Manufacturers also said that genetically modified crops would reduce the need for pesticides. In France, where G.M.O.s are not permitted, pesticide use has significantly declined.
70
thousand metric tons of active ingredient
Pesticide use in France
60
50
40
FUNGICIDES
30
HERBICIDES
20
10
INSECTICIDES
0
’96
’00
’05
’10
’13
The New York Times|Source: Union of Industries of Plant Protection (France)
But in the United States, while the use of insect- and fungus-killing chemicals has declined, farmers are using even more weed killers.
600
million pounds
Pesticide use in the United States
500
400
HERBICIDES
300
200
100
INSECTICIDES AND FUNGICIDES
0
’92
’96
’00
’04
’08
’12
The New York Times|Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Much of the growth in the use of weed killers has come in Monsanto’s Roundup, in which the active ingredient is glyphosate.
percentage of acres treated
350
Herbicides applied to corn in the United States
300
250
METOLACHLOR
ACETOCHLOR
200
ATRAZINE
150
100
OTHERS
50
GLYPHOSATE
0
’90
’95
’00
’05
’10
’14
The New York Times|Source: U.S.D.A. National Agricultural Statistics Service
No comments:
Post a Comment