This paper updates previous assessments of how crop biotechnology has changed the environmental impact of global agriculture. It focuses on the environmental impacts associated with changes in pesticide use and greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of GM crops since their first widespread commercial use in the mid 1990s. The adoption of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 553 million kg (-8.6%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops (as measured by the indicator the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)) by 19.1%. The technology has also facilitated important cuts in fuel use and tillage changes, resulting in a significant reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM cropping area. In 2013, this was equivalent to removing 12.4 million cars from the roads.
Keywords: ALS inhibitor, herbicide that inhibits the acetolactate synthase enzyme production (in weeds); EIQ, environmental impact quotient; GM, genetic modification; GMO; HT, herbicide tolerant; IR, insect resistant; NT, no tillage; RT, reduced tillage; active ingredient; biotech crops; carbon sequestration; environmental impact quotient; no tillage; pesticide.