Can small farmers in developing countries also benefit from planting GMOs?
The developing country farmers are most likely to benefit from the GMOs now available are farmers that grow maize, cotton, or soybeans, and those looking for new weed and insect control options. Many small cotton farmers in the developing world could gain from GMOs. In 2006, 9.3 million small farmers in developing countries grew GM crops. The Bt cotton farmers in China for example realize substantial economic gains according to independent surveys. A 1999-2001 survey revealed an average 24 percent yield increase when GMO cotton was planted, compared to conventional non-GMO cotton, and an average net economic gain of $470 per hectare compared to non-GMO cotton growers.
