Why are farmers planting GM crops?

Because they benefit from the technology - after all, over 16.7 million farmers around the world do so, and their numbers grow each season.

In addition to higher yields and higher farm income, their reasons include: 

  • Increased management flexibility 

  • Easier adoption of no- or reduced till farming, which saves time, equipment usage, and carbon emissions 

  • Improved weed control

  • Soil preservation 

  • Less worry about pest damage 

  • Less time spent on crop walking and/or insecticide application

  • Savings in energy use – mainly associated with less spraying and tillage

  • Savings in machinery use (for spraying and possibly reduced harvesting times)

  • Improved quality (e.g., lower levels of mycotoxins in GM insect-resistant maize)