ABSTRACT

This paper assesses how the use of genetically modified seed (GM) crop seed technology has impacted on greenhouse gas emissions at a global level. The main technologies of relevance are crops modified to be tolerant to specific herbicides so as to facilitate improved weed control and crops resistant to a range of crop insect pests that otherwise damage crops or typically require the application of insecticides to control them. Over the 24 year period examined to 2020, the widespread use of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant seed technology has led to important cuts in on-farm fuel use and facilitated farmers moving from plow-based systems to reduced and no tillage systems that they have continued to operate for a number of years. This has led to a significant reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM cropping area, which in 2020 was equal to a saving of 23,631 million kg of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking 15.6 million cars off the road for a year (equal to 49% of registered cars in the UK).

摘要

本文评估了转基因种子 (GM) 作物种子技术的使用对全球温室气体排放的影响。相关的主要技术是经过改良以耐受特定除草剂以促进改进杂草控制的作物和对一系列农作物害虫具有抗性的农作物，这些害虫否则会损害农作物或通常需要使用杀虫剂来控制农作物。在截至 2020 年的 24 年期间，转基因抗虫和耐除草剂种子技术的广泛使用导致农场燃料使用量的大幅减少，并促进农民从基于犁的系统转向他们拥有的减少耕作和免耕系统持续经营数年。这导致转基因种植区的温室气体排放量显着减少，