Biotechnology can generate economic earnings of US$ 66 billion in the next 10 years, according to Paula Carneiro, director of Céleres Consultancy. The results would be seen through the adoption of transgenic seeds, which reduces the use agrochemicals and increases yields on crops.
According to the expert, the increased use of biotechnology has generated nearly US$ 33 billion in the last 20 years. “The farmer has witnessed the economic and environmental results generated by biotechnology,” Carneiro said at a lecture during the “Bio Latin America Conference” held last week in São Paulo.
Regarding environmental issues, the benefits of biotechnology are related to reduction in water usage, reduction in fuels used on machinery and agricultural supplies, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gases. On the other hand, Carneiro highlighted that the sustainable production would be effective with a combination of biotechnology, integrated plague management and crop rotation, with new technologies, techniques and procedures.
According to data cited by the executive, the Brazilian cultivation areas in the 2015/2016 season with genetically modified seeds reached 45 million hectares, which corresponds to 77% of the total, which is approximately 58 million hectares. Meanwhile, 95% of soybeans, the major crop in the country, are transgenic. For corn, including first and second crop, the percentage is 87% and for cotton it reached 78%.