Washington, DC, USA
November 17, 2009
A new report released today critical of the crop biotechnology adoption by American farmers, and the consequent impacts on crop protection product use in the USA, appears to be another attempt at attention gathering using partial data sets and sensationalized conclusions. The report titled Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years, makes several claims regarding the outgrowth of agricultural biotechnology adoption.
"We've dealt with many critics of modern crop production technologies for years, including some associated with today's report," says CropLife America (CLA) president Jay Vroom. "While we at CLA have not yet had the benefit of seeing the report itself, nor the underlying data used to craft the report, much of the rhetoric of the study news release is familiar -- sweeping claims of exaggerated yield benefits from the use of technology, supposed greater increases in weed resistance than is otherwise known, claims of increases in food residues -- all of which are refuted by many government and university data sources. This seems another ploy to scare the public and influence public policy using partial data sets."
"CLA supports all means of agriculture, modern and organic alike, and are pleased that our members count farmers in both camps as customers of our crop protection products," Vroom noted. "We also are proud of the fact that our members are the leaders with investment in research and development of ever better uses of existing technologies, and tomorrow's brand new discoveries. All these technologies, in combination with modern plant breeding success, better fertilizer technologies, improved irrigation systems and precision technology among other innovations, are the true hope we all can rely on to feed a hungry world. CLA knows that active stewardship of all the technologies is required, and all of us in the crop protection industry support resistance management strategies. We would welcome a dialogue with the authors of the new critical study to get more facts on the table."
Established in 1933, CropLife America represents the developers, manufacturers, formulators and distributors of plant science solutions for agriculture and pest management in the United States. CropLife America’s member companies produce, sell and distribute virtually all the crop protection and biotechnology products used by American farmers.
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