¿quién se beneficia con los cultivos transgénicos? el uso creciente de plaguicidas

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International evaluates the global impact of genetically modified (GM) crops as of 2007, arguing that they provide no significant environmental, social, or economic benefits. The document specifically highlights how herbicide-resistant crops have led to an increase in pesticide use and the emergence of resistant weeds, while failing to improve food security or crop yields.

• The production of GM crops is concentrated in a few highly industrialized, export-oriented countries. Over 90% of the planted area is in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, with the United States alone producing more than 50% of the world's GM crops.
• GM crops have not introduced traits for higher yields, improved nutrition, or resistance to drought, salinity, or diseases. Instead, nearly 100% of commercial GM crops possess only one or two traits: resistance to herbicides or resistance to insects.
• Herbicide-resistant crops act as 'pesticide promoters' by encouraging the development of resistant weeds, which leads to higher pesticide application. In the United States, the use of glyphosate in major field crops increased more than 15 times between 1994 and 2005.
• GM crops have not improved food security for the poor in developing countries, as they are primarily used for animal feed, biofuels, and processed foods for wealthy nations. In South Africa's Makhatini Flats region, the number of small farmers growing Bt cotton dropped from 3,229 in 2001/02 to 853 in 2006/07.
• The concentration of the seed supply among a few agrochemical-biotechnology giants has increased prices and reduced seed options. Patenting seeds in the United States has effectively criminalized the traditional practice of seed saving for GM varieties.
• Evidence suggests that GM crops do not increase yields and may even cause losses. Roundup Ready soy is reported to have yields 5% to 10% lower than conventional varieties due to glyphosate limiting the absorption of essential nutrients like manganese.
• Claims by the ISAAA regarding Bt cotton yield increases are contested. Analysis indicates that yield gains are often due to weather, irrigation, or improved conventional seeds rather than the 'Bt factor'. In the US, Argentina, and Colombia, average cotton yields have stagnated since the adoption of Bt cotton.

APA

Villar, J. L., & Freese, B. (2008). ¿quién se beneficia con los cultivos transgénicos? el uso creciente de plaguicidas. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/08-foei-gmo-es-esp-lr.pdf

Chicago

Villar, Juan López, and Bill Freese. ¿quién se beneficia con los cultivos transgénicos? el uso creciente de plaguicidas. Friends of the Earth International, 2008. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/08-foei-gmo-es-esp-lr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Villar |first1=Juan López |last2=Freese |first2=Bill |title=¿quién se beneficia con los cultivos transgénicos? el uso creciente de plaguicidas |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=January 2008 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/08-foei-gmo-es-esp-lr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{villar2008quin, author = {Villar, Juan López and Freese, Bill}, title = {{¿quién se beneficia con los cultivos transgénicos? el uso creciente de plaguicidas}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2008}, month = jan, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/08-foei-gmo-es-esp-lr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }