Environmental analysis news: Growing GM crops 'can benefit farmers'

Growing genetically modified (GM) crops can benefit farmers, it has been claimed.

Writing for the Guardian, Janet Carpenter noted that most agricultural workers find that their yields increase and costs go down.

"The benefits were found to be greatest for mostly small farmers in developing countries. The average yield improvements for developing countries range from 16 per cent for insect-resistant corn to 30 per cent for insect-resistant cotton," she explained.

Although seed costs can be higher for GM farmers, the cost of this is generally offset by a reduction in the amount spent on pesticides.

However, Farmonline.com recently reported that the benefits of GM farming can decline over time.

A study by the National Research Council noted that crops resistant to the herbicide glyphosate could develop weed problems

GM crops were introduced in 1996 and account for a vast number of plants grown in the US.

Written by Joseph Hutton