who benefits from gm crops?

The document argues that GM crops are an extension of a pesticide-dependent industrial agriculture model that fails to address hunger and harms the environment. It highlights that over 99% of GM crops are herbicide-tolerant or insect-resistant, leading to increased pesticide use and the emergence of resistant weeds and pests. The report notes significant public and political resistance in Europe and Asia, and warns of the monopolistic power of six biotech giants over the global seed market. As an alternative, it advocates for agroecology and food sovereignty to ensure sustainable food systems and support small-scale farmers.

• The vast majority of GM crops are designed for pesticide use rather than nutrition or climate adaptation, with approximately 99 per cent of GM crops grown being "herbicide tolerant, insect resistant or a combination of both."
• GM crops have led to increased pesticide use due to the development of resistance in weeds and insects. In the US, 21 weed species show resistance to glyphosate, and in India, farmers growing Bt cotton have had to increase pesticide use after the first two years.
• The global seed market is dominated by six multinational companies—Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, Bayer, Dow, and BASF—which control 100% of the GM seed market and 60% of the overall commercial seed market.
• There is no scientific consensus on the safety of GM crops, and evidence from Argentina links high pesticide use in GM areas to increased cancer rates and a quadrupling of congenital birth defects in the Chaco region.
• GM 'Golden Rice' is not considered the best solution for vitamin A deficiency, as the most effective way to avoid micronutrient deficiencies is through a varied diet of vegetables, fruits, and animal products.
• Agroecology is presented as a sustainable alternative to GM crops, with methods such as the 'push-pull' pest control in Africa and the 'system of rice intensification' (SRI) in Kenya showing success in increasing yields.

APA

Pispini, M., Schimpf, M., Lopez, J., & Chandrasekaran, K. (2014). who benefits from gm crops? Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/24-foei-who-benefits-exec-summ-eng-lr.pdf

Chicago

Pispini, Myrto, Mute Schimpf, Juan Lopez, and Kirtana Chandrasekaran. who benefits from gm crops? Friends of the Earth International, 2014. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/24-foei-who-benefits-exec-summ-eng-lr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pispini |first1=Myrto |last2=Schimpf |first2=Mute |last3=Lopez |first3=Juan |last4=Chandrasekaran |first4=Kirtana |title=who benefits from gm crops? |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=April 2014 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/24-foei-who-benefits-exec-summ-eng-lr.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pispini2014who, author = {Pispini, Myrto and Schimpf, Mute and Lopez, Juan and Chandrasekaran, Kirtana}, title = {{who benefits from gm crops?}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2014}, month = apr, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/24-foei-who-benefits-exec-summ-eng-lr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }