Benefits of Transgenic Plants: A Socioeconomic Perspective

Abstract

Transgenic crops have been used commercially for over ten years. So far, mostly herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant Bt crops have been employed. Available impact studies show that these crops are beneficial to farmers and consumers and produce large aggregate welfare gains. Moreover, transgenic crops bring about environmental and health benefits. Bt crops in particular are well suited also for small-scale farmers, contributing to higher yields, more rural employment, and higher household incomes. In many cases, farmers in developing countries even benefit more than farmers in developed countries, because of weaker intellectual property protection and differences in agroecological and socioeconomic conditions. The advantages of future applications could even be much bigger. These results suggest that transgenic crops can contribute significantly to food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development at the global level.