Benefits of GM crops

The adoption of transgenic crops resulted in significant economic advantages for the country, benefiting many farmers and their families and the whole community. The adoption of transgenic crops by Uruguayan agriculture has had a direct impact -due to the additional income generated by GM crops (soybean and maize) -and an indirect impact on the country’s economy, creating additional labor demand. Transgenic crops adoption has been accompanied by an expansion of the Uruguayan agricultural sector and by yield increase. In addition, GM crops contributed to the reduction of production costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Herbicide-resistant crops have favored the adoption of no-till farming, with added benefits for the soil. Insect-resistant maize favored the adoption of late sowing, thus allowing risk diversification.

 

   

 

   

For further information regarding benefits

 

• Crecimiento y cambios en la agricultura uruguaya. CUS-Seragro (2019)

• Dos décadas de cultivos transgénicos en Uruguay - Impactos en la agricultura y la economía nacional. Consultora Agropecuaria Seragro (2016)

• GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts 1996-2018. Brookes and Barfoot (2020a)

• GM crop technology use 1996-2018: farm income and production impacts. Brookes and Barfoot (2020c)

• Environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2018: impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions. Brookes and Barfoot (2020b)