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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 10 July 2009 06:07 |
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The scientific consensus is that the use of transgenic insect-resistant Bt crops is reducing the volume and frequency of insecticide use on maize, cotton and soybean (ICSU). These results have been especially significant for cotton in Australia, China, Mexico, South Africa and the United States (Chapter 4). The environmental benefits include less contamination of water supplies and less damage to non-target insects (ICSU). Reduced pesticide use suggests that Bt crops would be generally beneficial to in-crop biodiversity in comparison with conventional crops that receive regular, broad-spectrum pesticide applications, although these benefits would be reduced if supplemental insecticide applications were required (GM Science Review Panel). As a result of less chemical pesticide spraying on cotton, demonstrable health benefits for farm workers have been documented in China (Pray et al., 2002) and South Africa (Bennett, Morse and Ismael, 2003).
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Last Updated on Friday, 10 July 2009 08:46 |
