The Use of GM Crops in Developing Countries
Benefits and risks associated with the use of GM crops in developing countries
1.6 Generalised judgements about possible benefits and risks of ‘GM crops’ to ‘developing
countries’ as such, are of limited use. When assessing the benefits and risks of introducing a
specific GM crop, the socio-economic and agricultural context of individual countries needs
to be considered. Relevant factors include:
- the prevalence of specific climatic conditions;
- the presence of wild relatives of the crop;
- the availability of water for irrigation;
- the level of infrastructure in place;
- the extent to which commercial fertilisers or pesticides are used;
- the proportion of farm produce which is sold;
- the relative proportion of crop production directed to domestic and/or export markets;
- access to export markets;
- the effects of competition from subsidised agricultural products from developed countries; and
- the nature of national regulation for biotechnology. It is therefore much more helpful to focus on particular countries, or, where possible, on sufficiently similar types of countries, to assess the impact of a specific GM crop on the environment, agriculture and the economy.