July 2, 2012

expert reaction to genetically modified cotton can benefit smallholder farmers

A study in PNAS found that at least one genetically modified crop—cotton engineered to resist a common insect pest—has significantly raised the standards of living of smallholder farm households in India.

Professor Jonathan Jones of the Sainsbury Lab, said:

“It’s very welcome to see a peer-reviewed publication in a prestigious journal that comprehensively assesses the results of deploying GM cotton in India. There have been many misleading stories about this topic- suggesting for example that GM cotton has caused farmer suicides- and Kathage and Qaim’s work should finally make clear to everyone that GM insect resistant cotton has provided substantial benefits to smallholders.”

‘Economic impacts and impact dynamics of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton in India’ by Jonas Kathage and Matin Qaim, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday 2nd July.