A Farmer's experience with biotech crops in South Africa

Demand for agricultural products is increasing, with most experts suggesting that food production will need to double by 2050 in order to meet food demand. To increase production, while improving the sustainability of agriculture, we need to adopt better methods, better management, tillage methods, better knowledge of resources, and better genetics. In the last two decades, the area planted with biotech crops has increased in the world to reach 10% of total arable land. The main traits are herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. In South Africa, yields have almost doubled with the adoption of biotech maize, which now accounts for a fourth of the area planted. Farm-level evidence in the Freestate Province of South Africa shows that biotech varieties are less dependent on rainfall, reduce production costs, and increase yield and profit margins (by up to 32%) compared to other varieties. Moreover, savings on herbicide and pesticide applications, and the resulting decline in fuel usage, have had positive impacts on the environment.