ABSTRACT

This paper assesses how the use of genetically modified seed (GM) crop seed technology has impacted on greenhouse gas emissions at a global level. The main technologies of relevance are crops modified to be tolerant to specific herbicides so as to facilitate improved weed control and crops resistant to a range of crop insect pests that otherwise damage crops or typically require the application of insecticides to control them. Over the 24 year period examined to 2020, the widespread use of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant seed technology has led to important cuts in on-farm fuel use and facilitated farmers moving from plow-based systems to reduced and no tillage systems that they have continued to operate for a number of years. This has led to a significant reduction in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from the GM cropping area, which in 2020 was equal to a saving of 23,631 million kg of carbon dioxide, equivalent to taking 15.6 million cars off the road for a year (equal to 49% of registered cars in the UK).

 抽象的

本文评估了转基因种子 (GM) 作物种子技术的使用对全球温室气体排放的影响。相关的主要技术是改良作物以耐受特定除草剂，以促进改善杂草控制，以及作物对一系列作物害虫的抵抗力，否则这些害虫会损害作物或通常需要施用杀虫剂来控制它们。在截至 2020 年的 24 年期间，转基因抗虫和耐除草剂种子技术的广泛使用已导致农场燃料使用量大幅减少，并促进农民从犁耕系统转向现有的少耕系统和免耕系统。持续经营多年。这使得转基因种植区的温室气体排放量大幅减少，到2020年相当于减少了236.31亿公斤二氧化碳，相当于一年减少了1560万辆汽车（相当于占英国注册汽车的 49%）。