Economic Impacts of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) Cotton

In recent years, high-yield production has gained importance due to the decrease in agricultural fields in the world and the rapid increase in the population. Cotton is an important source of income for farmers worldwide and is an important crop, especially for the textile industry. Bt-cotton technology, which entered our lives in 1996, has been quickly adopted in many developed and developing countries. It has been shown to provide advantages in many areas. In particular, the economic growth is gaining importance every year. Additionally, it has also brought an environmentally friendly solution to the crop losses caused by insects and pests over the years, by decreasing chemical spraying. Thus, the cost of farmers was reduced and their health was preserved. It enables farmers to be more profitable by shortening the working hours in the fields and reducing labor force. Moreover, this technology has been shown to increase the yield in cotton production. Fifteen years since the commercialization of Bt-cotton technology was first approved and planted, farmers made profit of million dollars from reduced pesticide use. This study includes detailed information about the contribution of Bt-cotton technology to the leading cotton-producing countries' economies, their commercialization, and explores the current methods used in plants transformation. Although there are some conflicts about whether this technology will provide sustainability and long-term benefits, currently, there are 15 countries that have adopted this technology including India, China and the United States. Also, many more countries are expected to be included in this list in the coming years.

Automated summary

The widespread adoption of Bt-cotton technology globally has brought economic and environmental benefits to farmers while increasing cotton yield. Although there are debates about sustainability and long-term benefits, several countries have already implemented this technology, with more expected to follow suit in the future.