The additional gross margin achieved in 2012 by Spanish farmers with Bt corn is more than 11 million euros

Spanish farmers received in 2012 an additional gross margin can be assessed in more than 11 million euros through the cultivation of genetically modified maize pest resistant drill.

The figures are derived from the report accepted for publication by the Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research (SJAR) in determining the average gross margin additional maize Bt 95 euros per hectare.

After 15 years' continuous betting on these seeds, in 2012 reached record with 116,306 hectares of planting , which represents 30% of total maize grain sown in Spain throughout the year.

Aragon is the region with the largest acreage of Bt corn and which estimates additional gross margin of almost 4 million euros (41,669.39 hectares).

Then follows Catalonia (33,530.86 hectares) and Extremadura (15,951.53 acres) with over 3 and 1.5 million of additional gross margin, respectively. The additional total average gross margin of Spanish farmers can assess to 11,049,127 euros...
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H/T AJ Stein

Futher commentary

The planting of genetically modified corn protected against borer pests has reached arecord high of 116,306 in 2012 with adoption hectares, which represents 30% of total maize grain sown in the country. This is clear from recent data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) on surfaces of corn planted in Spain during 2012 .

A total of 116,306.6 hectares were cultivated with maize in Spain in 2012, which represents an increase of 18,980.88 hectares and 20% over the previous year.Regarding the total production of grain corn, genetically modified crops have accounted for 30% of the total planted in the country, 3.5% more than in 2011 .

Aragon is the region with the largest area planted with Bt corn acres 41669.39, 301.39 more than in 2011. Followers Catalonia and Extremadura 33530.86 and 15951.53 hectares with, respectively, an increase of 3898.85 and 5384.70 hectares each. Provinces more planting biotech maize have been Huesca (24002.65), Lleida (27076.75), Zaragoza (17143.80) and Badajoz (10690.06).

It confirms once again the Spanish farmer confidence in GM varieties, seeds that allow field professionals benefit from significant economic, social and environmental.

The biotech seeds allow farmers to increase production in a more sustainable and reduce resource consumption per unit of production (less land, less water and less energy). These advantages translate into direct benefits for the farmer to make farming more profitable and competitive.

Remember that the use of these seeds is based on annual decisions of the farmer in the market has many varieties obtained by conventional breeding. According to the study conducted for the Foundation Antama among farmers who planted biotech crops in Spain in 2011, 95% of farmers recognized that would do this year .

Only with the cultivation of genetically modified maize borer resistant (MON810) Spanish farmers have managed between 1996 and 2009 a bonus of 65 million euros . It is estimated that if European farmers could grow GM varieties approved in competing countries could have an additional income of between 443 and 929 million euros a year .

A total of 16.7 million farmers around the world endorse the economic, social and environmental impact of these crops. In 2011 a total of 160 million hectares were planted with genetically modified seeds in 29 countries . Of these, 19 were from developing countries while the remaining 10 were industrialized countries.