Economic and Environmental Impacts of First Generation Genetically Modifi ed Crops

The report examines the adoption and effects of first-generation GMO crops, noting that while RR soybeans facilitate no-till farming and replace some toxic herbicides, they are associated with 'yield drag' and increased herbicide volumes. It warns that high selection pressure in Argentina increases the risk of weed resistance and shifts. Additionally, the document highlights emerging concerns regarding glyphosate's impact on soil microbial communities, specifically the increase of Fusarium fungi, and the impairment of nitrogen fixation in soybeans.

• Adoption rates of herbicide-tolerant soybeans were significantly higher in Argentina than in the United States by 2002, reaching over 95 per cent in Argentina compared to around 75 per cent in the U.S.
• Contrary to biotechnology industry claims, RR soybeans require higher volumes of herbicides than conventional varieties; in the U.S., they require 5–10 per cent more active ingredient per acre, while in Argentina, use is more than double that of conventional varieties.
• RR soybean cultivars in the U.S. generally exhibit a 'yield drag,' producing 5–10 per cent fewer bushels per hectare/acre than identical conventional varieties, with some state-level trials showing losses as high as 15.5 per cent in Indiana and just under 19 per cent in Iowa.
• The use of RR technology supports no-till systems which dramatically reduce soil erosion on highly erodible land, dropping rates from 50 or more tons per acre to less than 10 tons.
• High selection pressure from glyphosate use, particularly in Argentina where application rates are higher than in the U.S., risks causing serious weed resistance and shifts in weed species composition.
• Glyphosate application in RR crops is linked to increased levels of Fusarium fungi in some fields, which is associated with crop and livestock diseases, including wheat scab and swine reproductive problems.
• Research indicates that glyphosate applications can impair soybean root development, nodulation, and nitrogen fixation, with adverse effects worsening under drought stress or in infertile fields, potentially reducing yields by up to 25 per cent.

APA

Benbrook, D. C. (2003). Economic and Environmental Impacts of First Generation Genetically Modifi ed Crops. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_firstgen_gmo_us_sum.pdf

Chicago

Benbrook, Dr. Charles. Economic and Environmental Impacts of First Generation Genetically Modifi ed Crops. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2003. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_firstgen_gmo_us_sum.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Benbrook |first1=Dr. Charles |title=Economic and Environmental Impacts of First Generation Genetically Modifi ed Crops |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2003 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_firstgen_gmo_us_sum.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{benbrook2003economic, author = {Benbrook, Dr. Charles}, title = {{Economic and Environmental Impacts of First Generation Genetically Modifi ed Crops}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2003}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/tkn_firstgen_gmo_us_sum.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }