New CAST Report on Environmental Safety and Benefits of Biotech Crops The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) released a comprehensive report today: "Comparative Environmental Impacts of Biotechnology-derived and Traditional Soybean, Corn, and Cotton Crops." CAST researchers from Washington State University, the University of Illinois, Clemson University and the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) reviewed and analyzed the scientific literature to compare the potential environmental impacts of biotech derived versus conventional crops and address questions raised regarding the potential environmental impacts of commercially available biotech soybean, corn and cotton crops. The study was based on nine criteria including changes in pesticide use patterns, soil management and conservation tillage, crop weediness, gene flow and outcrossing, pest resistance, pest population shifts, nontarget and beneficial organisms, land use efficiency/productivity, and human exposure. The United Soybean Board, a nonprofit organization representing soybean farmers throughout the United States commissioned the report. According to Richard Borgsmiller, a soybean and corn farmer in Illinois and chairman of the USB, "Farmers often work land that has been in the same family for generations. Many of us have seen environmental improvements on our farms as a result of planting biotech varieties. We wanted to verify these positive effects through an independent assessment by the best scientists in the country. The CAST report, combined with similar reports from leading regulatory agencies, adds to the confidence we have in biotechnology as a beneficial tool that helps us take better care of our natural resources." According to the report, "A comprehensive review of the scientific literature supports the conclusion that overall the currently commercialized biotechnology-derived soybean, corn, and cotton crops yield environmental benefits. Furthermore, a critical analysis of the literature supports the idea that biotechnology-derived soybean, corn, and cotton pose no environmental concerns unique to or different from those historically associated with conventionally developed crop varieties." Available on the CAST web site at: http://www.cast-science.org Full report (3.8 MB) Executive Summary (Available in Chinese, English, French, Portuguese (Brazilian), and Spanish) Media Advisory News Release Author and Farmer Bios Key Findings from the Report and CAST News Release --- Biotech Crops Can Provide: Improved Environmental Stewardship - insect, weed, and disease management options Environmental and Economic Benefits - production security, safety of workers, public and wildlife, and benefits for soil, water, and ecosystems The report outlines specific benefits for biotechnology-derived soybean, corn, and cotton (View the Executive Summary for detailed benefits for each crop). The authors also provide a series of recommendations including: Continued development of agricultural biotechnology to enhance environmental stewardship Evaluating the role of biotech-derived crops in the context of whole-farm management Comparing whole-farm systems when drawing conclusions on potential impacts of biotech-derived crops Using specific guidelines when comparing consequences of a particular trait (using identical varieties, growth conditions, etc.) Evaluating potential environmental impacts of biotech crops in regions where the crops may be adopted and in the context of viable and currently available alternatives Large-scale and farm-scale field studies to provide additional information to document any potential long-term benefits and safety impacts of adopting biotech-derived crops Continued development of policies for implementation of insect and weed resistance management strategies for both conventional and biotech crops and continued research to slow the development of resistance To focus research on potential environmental and social impacts of gene movement, recognizing that gene flow is a natural process that may increase biodiversity Recognizing the potential for biotech-derived corn varieties to help address current corn rootworm control problems stemming from the development of insect resistance to chemical insecticides and crop rotation - the authors recommend that research include consideration of resistance management strategies and impacts on non-target organisms Continued development of biotech-derived hybrids that improve crop yields recognizing enhanced land use efficiency as an important environmental benefit CAST is a non-profit organization composed of scientific societies and many individual, student, company, non-profit and associate society members. CAST assembles, interprets and communicates science-based information regionally, nationally and internationally on food, fiber, agricultural, natural resource and related societal and environmental issues to a wide-variety of stakeholders. ©2001 ANBio - Associação Nacional de Biossegurança. All rights reserved.