Benefits of genetically modified crops for the poor: household income, nutrition, and health

New Biotechnology
Matin Qaim

Abstract

The potential impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops on income, poverty and nutrition in developing countries continue to be the subject of public controversy. Here, a review of the evidence is given. As an example of a first-generation GM technology, the effects of insect-resistant Bt cotton are analysed. Bt cotton has already been adopted by millions of small-scale farmers, in India, China, and South Africa among others. On average, farmers benefit from insecticide savings, higher effective yields and sizeable income gains. Insights from India suggest that Bt cotton is employment generating and poverty reducing. As an example of a second-generation technology, the likely impacts of beta-carotene-rich Golden Rice are analysed from an ex ante perspective. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious nutritional problem, causing multiple adverse health outcomes. Simulations for India show that Golden Rice could reduce related health problems significantly, preventing up to 40,000 child deaths every year. These examples clearly demonstrate that GM crops can contribute to poverty reduction and food security in developing countries. To realise such social benefits on a larger scale requires more public support for research targeted to the...Continue Reading

References

Feb 8, 2003·Science·Matin Qaim, David Zilberman
Apr 3, 2004·Nature Biotechnology·Stephen MorseYousouf Ismael
Mar 29, 2005·Nature Biotechnology·Jacqueline A PaineRachel Drake
Oct 13, 2006·Nature Biotechnology·Alexander J SteinMatin Qaim
Apr 17, 2009·The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition·Guangwen TangMichael A Grusak
Sep 11, 2009·Nature Biotechnology·Matin QaimPrakash Sadashivappa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 23, 2013·Plant Molecular Biology·Judit BermanPaul Christou
Oct 19, 2013·Nutrition Research Reviews·Georgina SanahujaChangfu Zhu
May 3, 2011·Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·Stephen O Duke
Mar 1, 2012·The Plant Cell·Teresa B FitzpatrickAlisdair R Fernie
Mar 4, 2014·Annual Review of Plant Biology·Jose Rafael PradoSusan Martino-Catt
Jan 29, 2011·New Biotechnology·Julian ParkGraziano Ceddia
May 1, 2013·New Biotechnology·Matty Demont, Alexander J Stein
Nov 15, 2011·Biotechnology Advances·Biao WangQiaochun Wang
Dec 14, 2011·New Biotechnology·Hans De SteurMatin Qaim
Apr 16, 2016·Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health·Dominic Merriott
Oct 8, 2014·Health Policy and Planning·Anelyse M WeilerJerry M Spiegel
Jun 3, 2015·Food and Chemical Toxicology : an International Journal Published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association·Clidia E M PintoIlka M Vasconcelos
Jun 11, 2014·Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition·Si-Yuan PanKam-Ming Ko
Oct 11, 2011·BMC Research Notes·Ademola A Adenle
Jun 16, 2016·The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society·Matin Qaim
Jan 7, 2017·Nature Plants·Andrew Flachs
Jul 16, 2019·NPJ Science of Food·Kai Cui, Sharon P Shoemaker
Apr 17, 2020·Current Developments in Nutrition·Mansura KhanamTahmeed Ahmed
Apr 20, 2021·Journal of Plant Physiology·Ravi B Anjanappa, Wilhelm Gruissem

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Bioinformatics in Biomedicine

Bioinformatics in biomedicine incorporates computer science, biology, chemistry, medicine, mathematics and statistics. Discover the latest research on bioinformatics in biomedicine here.