Effect of GM cotton in reducing pollution in Namoi river

A picture is worth 1000 words they say. This is from a recent Australian Cotton Industry response to a major environmental audit. GM cotton varieties that allow reduced insecticide spraying were introduced in 1996 and this, with many other integrated pest management measures, has led to the improvements shown in the graph from 1998 onwards. Endosulfan pesticide levels in river water are now undetectable


Update: Comments about the bigger picture

from CS Prakash, Agbioview Newsletter 22 March 2006:

One of the myths perpetuated by activists opposed to GM crops in tricking the gullible public and media is this bogus assertion that 'biotech crops do not reduce pesticide use'.

Various studies show significant reduction in pesticide usage due to biotech crop adoption. See reports by USDA ( http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/aer810/aer810fm.pdf ) and also the National Center for Food and Ag Policy which says that "biotechnology-derived crops planted in 2004 reduced the use of pesticides in crop production by 62.0 million pounds. This represents a further 34% decrease in pesticide usage compared with 2003. "
http://www.ncfap.org/whatwedo/pdf/2004ExecSummaryA.pdf

Much of the confusion and distortion arises because of the diverse types of pesticides and herbicides with varying levels of toxicity being used. Farmers are now switching to safer, less-toxic herbicides because of the herbicide-tolerant GM crops. See USDA's document "Genetically Engineered Crops: Has Adoption Reduced Pesticide Use?" from year 2000: http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/agoutlook/aug2000/ao273f.pdf

Further, in countries such as China farmers planting Bt cotton have reported 80% reduction in pesticide usage and fewer hospital visits due to pesticide poisonings.


Update
This insect protected Bt GM cotton saves farmers A$100million's too.