This PDF is available from The National Academies Press at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12804 Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States ISBN Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and 978-0-309-14708-8 Sustainability; National Research Council 270 pages 6 x 9 PAPERBACK (2010) Visit the National Academies Press online and register for... Instant access to free PDF downloads of titles from the NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 10% off print titles Custom notification of new releases in your field of interest Special offers and discounts Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the National Academies Press. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Request reprint permission for this book Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States Committee on the Impact of Biotechnology on Farm-Level Economics and Sustainability Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources Division on Earth and Life Studies Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20001 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Gov- erning Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engi- neering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. This study was funded by the National Academies. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project. International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-14708-8 (Book) International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-14708-5 (Book) International Standard Book Number-13: 978-0-309-14709-5 (PDF) International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-14709-3 (PDF) Library of Congress Control Number: 2010927922 Additional copies of this report are available from the National Academies Press, 500 Fifth Street, NW, Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313 (in the Washington metropolitan area); Internet, http://www.nap.edu. Suggested Citation: National Research Council. 2010. The Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Copyright 2010 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal govern- ment on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its mem- bers, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advis- ing the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the fed- eral government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineer- ing communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. www.national-academies.org Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States COMMITTEE ON THE IMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY ON FARM-LEVEL ECONOMICS AND SUSTAINABILITY DAVID E. ERVIN (Chair), Portland State University, Oregon YVES CARRIÈRE, University of Arizona, Tucson WILLIAM J. COX, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York JORGE FERNANDEZ-CORNEJO, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC1 RAYMOND A. JUSSAUME, JR., Washington State University, Pullman MICHELE C. MARRA, North Carolina State University, Raleigh MICHEAL D.K. OWEN, Iowa State University, Ames PETER H. RAVEN, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis L. LAREESA WOLFENBARGER, University of Nebraska, Omaha DAVID ZILBERMAN, University of California, Berkeley Project Staff KARA N. LANEY, Study Director KAMWETI MUTU, Research Associate ROBIN A. SCHOEN, Director, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources KAREN L. IMHOF, Administrative Assistant NORMAN GROSSBLATT, Senior Editor The views expressed here are those of the authors and may not be attributed to the Eco- nomic Research Service or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States BOARD ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES NORMAN R. SCOTT (Chair), Cornell University, Ithaca, New York PEGGY F. BARLETT, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia HAROLD L. BERGMANN, University of Wyoming, Laramie RICHARD A. DIXON, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, Ardmore, Oklahoma DANIEL M. DOOLEY, University of California, Oakland JOAN H. EISEMANN, North Carolina State University, Raleigh GARY F. HARTNELL, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri GENE HUGOSON, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, St. Paul KIRK C. KLASING, University of California, Davis VICTOR L. LECHTENBERG, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana PHILIP E. NELSON, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana KEITH PITTS, Marrone Bio Innovations, Davis, California CHARLES W. RICE, Kansas State University, Manhattan HAL SALWASSER, Oregon State University, Corvallis PEDRO A. SANCHEZ, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, Palisades, New York ROGER A. SEDJO, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC KATHLEEN SEGERSON, University of Connecticut, Storrs MERCEDES VAZQUEZ-AÑON, Novus International, Inc., St. Charles, Missouri Staff ROBIN A. SCHOEN, Director KAREN L. IMHOF, Administrative Assistant AUSTIN J. LEWIS, Senior Program Officer EVONNE P.Y. TANG, Senior Program Officer PEGGY TSAI, Program Officer CAMILLA YANDOC ABLES, Associate Program Officer KARA N. LANEY, Associate Program Officer RUTH S. ARIETI, Research Associate JANET M. MULLIGAN, Research Associate KAMWETI MUTU, Research Associate ERIN P. MULCAHY, Senior Program Assistant i Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Impact of Genetically Engineered Crops on Farm Sustainability in the United States Preface Not since the introduction of hybrid corn seed have we witnessed such a sweeping technological change in U.S. agriculture. Hundreds of thousands of farmers have adopted the first generation of genetically engineered (GE) crops since their commercialization in 1996. Although not all GE varieties that have been commercialized have succeeded, those targeted at improved pest control now cover over 80 percent of the acres planted to soybean, cotton, and corn—that is, almost half of U.S. crop- land. Forecasts suggest an expansion in GE-crop plantings in many other countries. GE crops originate in advances in molecular and cellular biology that enable scientists to introduce desirable traits from other species into crop plants or to alter crop plants’ genomes internally. Those powerful scientific techniques have