International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) said that increased use of biotech crops has helped to increase world’s cumulative farm income by $27 billion.

India’s farm income too has increased by Rs 558 crore by the use of biotech crops. Production of insect-resistant cotton has increased farm income by $5.7 billion, since its introduction.

Herbicide-tolerant soybeans have benefited greatly with income increase of more than $17 billion, the study revealed.

About 8.25 million farmers in 18 countries have reverted to biotech crops with 90 per cent of the user being resource-poor producers of developing countries.

Biotech crop indirectly benefits, increased management flexibility, facilitating reduced tillage practices, reduced production risk and enhanced crop quality along with financial benefits, the release added.

It has helped in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and decreased the use of pesticides, the study said.

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