Report says biotech crops increase use of herbicides

In increased popularity of genetically engineered crops has led to a substantial increase in pesticide use, according to a report from The Organic Center, the Union for Concerned Scientists and the Center for Food Safety. The nonprofit lobbying groups say increased harvesting of biotech crops has also led to an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and more chemical residues in foods.

The report says herbicide use grew by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, Carey Gillam of Reuters writes, with 46 percent of the total increase occurring in 2007 and 2008. The groups do note that genetically-engineered crops have led to reductions of 64 million pounds in insecticide use since 1996, bringing the net total of pesticide growth to 318 million pounds in the first 13 years of biotech crop use. The groups say the chief concern with increased herbicide use is the emergence of "super weeds" resistant to most herbicides.

"Herbicide-resistant crops are incredibly popular with farmers. They help them manage their weed problems in ways traditional crops don't," Mike Wach, managing director of science and regulatory affairs for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, told Gillam. "Farmers are continuing to adopt these crops because they provide benefits, not liabilities and problems." BIO officials noted a recent PG Economics Ltd. report that said gloobal herbicide use in biotech soybean crops decreased by 161 million pounds from 1996 to 2007. (Read more)