Twenty-one years of using insect resistant (GM) maize in Spain and Portugal: farm-level economic and environmental contributions

This paper presents an assessment of some of the key economic and environmental impacts associated with the adoption of IR maize in Spain and Portugal since 1998. The analysis focuses on:

The original IR maize trait approved for planting in the EU was Bt 176 available in a single variety, Compa CB , in Spain in 1998. Subsequently, EU member states introduced a moratorium on the further approval of GM crops which lasted until 2003. During this period, the area planted to IR maize in Spain remained at an average level equal to about 21,500 ha because of a voluntary agreement by Syngenta Seeds to limit seed availability to this level until the EU moratorium on new GMO approvals was formally lifted. After 2003, the trait MON 810 was approved for planting (afterwards Bt 176 was withdrawn from the market) and became available in a number of leading varieties (a total of 90 and 26 varieties respectively in Spain and Portugal (2018)). As a result, the area planted to IR maize in Spain increased ( Fig. 1 ) so that since 2012, approximately 30%–35% of the total maize area in Spain has consistently used this seed technology. GM IR maize was first planted in Portugal in 1999 on 1,300 ha but was not then planted again until 2005, after the lifting of the moratorium. The area planted followed a similar upward trend to Spain in subsequent years so that from 2011, approximately 7%–9% of the total crop has been planted to seed containing this trait (7,000–9,000 ha).

GM crop technology has been widely used in maize in many parts of the world over the last 21 years and GM IR maize technology was first used in North America (USA and Canada) in 1996. Since then, its use has been extended to 185 million ha (2017) of maize planted in 11 countries outside the EU (USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, South Africa, Philippines and Vietnam). In the European Union (EU), the only GM maize trait authorized for planting has been IR maize (resistant to the Lepidopteran pests Ostrinia nubilalis (European corn borer or ECB) and Sesamia nonagroides (Mediteranean stem borer or MSB)) which was first authorized for planting in 1998. In 2018, maize using this trait was planted on 121,132 ha, in Spain and Portugal only ( Table 1 : equal to 0.07% of the total global biotech maize area).

The approach used to estimate the impacts of IR maize draws on the farm level and aggregate impacts identified in the global impact studies of Brookes and Barfoot. 1 Brookes G, Barfoot P. Farm income and production impacts of using GM crop technology 1996–2016. GM Crops Food. 2018a;9(2):59–89. doi:10.1080/21645698.2018.1464866., 2 Brookes G, Barfoot P. Environmental impacts of genetically modified (GM) crop use 1996-2016: impacts on pesticide use and carbon emissions. GM Crops Food. 2018b;9(3):109–39. doi:10.1080/21645698.2018.1476792. These examined farm level economic impacts on crop yield and production gains and environmental impacts associated with changes in insecticide use and carbon emission savings associated with better pest control with the IR trait in maize. The material presented in this paper combines data presented in these papers for the period 1998–2016 but extends the analysis to include the years 2017 and 2018. The methodology used in the global impact of biotech crops covering the 1998–2016 period has also been applied to the years 2017 and 2018. This analysis is, itself based on a combination of papers, data and analysis of the impact of the technology in Spain and Portugal by other authors plus some ‘own analysis’. Additional information about the assumptions can be found in Appendix 1 (together with examples of calculations of impacts for the year 2018). Readers requiring further details relating the methodology should refer to the two references cited above.

When GM IR maize technology became available to farmers, the highest concentrations of early (GM IR) maize plantings were found in regions which have traditionally experienced the highest pest pressure levels such as Aragon and Catalunya in Spain and the Alentejo and Coastal Centro regions of Portugal. In subsequent years, as adoption levels increased, farmers in all regions where these pests have traditionally had a negative impact on crop yields adopted the technology ( Table 2 ).

In Portugal, prior to the availability of GM IR maize technology, very little insecticide use is reported to be have been used for control of these pests.

The use of insecticides for the control of the ECB/MSB pests in conventional maize was concentrated in the regions of highest infestation (e.g., Huesca). In Spain, the maize area typically treated with insecticides for control of these pests was between 60,000 ha and 100,000 ha per year, with the number of treatments being one or two per season. This compares with the area regularly experiencing significant levels of pest damage of between 120,000 ha and 150,000 ha (30%–35% of the total crop).

Traditionally, conventional maize growers in these two countries have taken two alternative approaches toward the control of these pests. Firstly, there is the “no active policy of treatment,” which is a fairly common approach, both in the EU and worldwide, with the second main approach being based on the use of insecticides. The no active policy of treatment reflects the variability in the levels of pest pressure by year and the limited efficacy of insecticide-based control. Insecticides have limited effectiveness because they may control pest larvae on the surface of maize plants at the time of spraying but are less effective against larvae that have bored into stalks, egg-laying can occur over a three-week period and most insecticides are only effective for 7–10 days. Also, as most pest damage takes place inside stalks rather than being readily visible on the plant surface, some farmers may not be fully aware of the level of damage to yields caused by the ECB and MCB. This was highlighted in surveys of farmers using GM IR maize technology. 3 Brookes G. The farm level impact of using Bt maize in Spain. 7th ICABR conference on public goods and public policy for agricultural biotechnology; 2003; Ravello, Italy. [ ]. http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/bt_maize_in_spain.pdf

In Portugal, a smaller area is estimated to regularly suffer pest damage from the ECB/MSB pest (up to 15,000 ha: Source), 4 Brookes G. The impact of using GM insect resistant maize in Europe since 1998. Int J Biotechnol. 2008;10(2/3):148–66. doi:10.1504/IJBT.2008.018351. equal to about 14%–15% of the grain maize area). The main regions that experience the highest levels of ECB/MSB pest pressure are Alentejo, Coastal Centro and Lisboa e Vale do Tejo.

In Spain, approximately 120,000 ha to 150,000 ha (30%–35% of the total maize crop) regularly experiences ECB/MSB damage (based on a combination of industry estimates and the area traditionally receiving insecticide treatments for corn boring pest control). 3 Brookes G. The farm level impact of using Bt maize in Spain. 7th ICABR conference on public goods and public policy for agricultural biotechnology; 2003; Ravello, Italy. [ ]. http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/bt_maize_in_spain.pdf The regions which have traditionally experienced the highest levels of pest pressure are Aragon and Catalunya.

The primary target of the technology, the ECB is the main insect pest that attacks maize crops in Spain and Portugal, as well as in other EU countries, although the MSB is also of economic importance in many areas. The maize crop may be subject to two generations of ECB (sometimes three generations) although the pest pressure incidence and levels of infestation typically vary by region and year, being influenced by local climatic conditions, the extent to which conventional forms of control (notably the application of insecticides) are used and planting times (early planted crops are usually better able to withstand attacks compared to crops planted later in year).

Impacts on Farm Income and Crop Production At the farm level, GM IR maize has provided Spanish and Portuguese farmers with higher yields from better pest control (relative to pest control obtained from conventional insecticide technology). As ECB and MCB damage varies by location, year, climatic factors, timing of planting, whether insecticides are used or not and the timing of application, the positive impact on yields of planting Bt maize varies. Table 3 summarizes the findings of analysis on the impact of GM IR maize on yields in the two countries. Additional information is provided in Appendix 1. For the purposes of this analysis, all of these empirical findings are utilized, which in terms of average yield gains over the respective periods of adoption were +11.5% in Spain and +12.5% in Portugal. Twenty-one years of using insect resistant (GM) maize in Spain and Portugal: farm-level economic and environmental contributions All authors Graham Brookes https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393 TABLE 3. Yield impacts from using GM IR maize in Spain and Portugal. CSVDisplay Table The technology has also provided savings in expenditure on insecticides for many farmers. In Spain, the farm level studies identified average reductions in annual expenditure of between €6/ha and €50/ha (annual average of about €19/ha: see appendix 1: sources Brookes,3 Brookes G. The farm level impact of using Bt maize in Spain. 7th ICABR conference on public goods and public policy for agricultural biotechnology; 2003; Ravello, Italy. [ ]. http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/bt_maize_in_spain.pdf Gomez-Barbero and Rodriguez-Cerezo5 Gomez-Barbero and Rodriguez-Cerezo. The adoption of GM insect-resistant Bt maize in Spain: an empirical approach. 10th ICABR conference on agricultural biotechnology; 2006 July; Ravello, Italy. and Riesgo et al.6 Riesgo L, Areal F, Rodriguez-Cerezo E. How can specific market demand for non-GM maize affect the profitability of Bt and conventional maize? A case study for the middle Ebro Valley, Spain. Spanish J Agric Res. 2012;10(4):867–76. doi:10.5424/sjar/2012104-448-11.) For Portugal, where insecticide use on conventional maize has traditionally been more limited, we have assumed that no insecticide cost savings have arisen with use of GM IR maize. The combination of these impacts has increased the incomes of farmers using the technology by €285.4 million over the 21-year period of 1998–2018. This is the equivalent of an average farm income gain of €173/ha per year. In 2018, the income gain was €22.2 million (Table 4). Twenty-one years of using insect resistant (GM) maize in Spain and Portugal: farm-level economic and environmental contributions All authors Graham Brookes https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393 TABLE 4. Farm income gains derived from GM IR maize (‘000€). CSVDisplay Table The largest share of the farm income benefits has been in Spain – 96% of total, where 95% of total plantings of IR maize have been. Examining the cost farmers pay for accessing the IR seed technology, the average additional cost of seed (seed premium) relative to conventional maize seed, over the period 1998–2018 was €36/ha equal to 17% of the total (gross) technology gains (before deduction of the additional cost of the technology payable to the seed supply chain – the cost of the technology accrues to the seed supply chain including sellers of seed to farmers, seed multipliers, plant breeders, distributors and the GM technology providers). In terms of investment, over the 21 years of adoption, this means that for each extra euro invested in IR maize crop seeds in Spain and Portugal, farmers gained an average €4.95. Based on the yield gains referred to in Table 3, the GM IR technology has added 1.89 million tonnes of maize to production since 1998 (Table 5). This extra production contributes to reducing pressure on farmers to use additional land for crop production. To illustrate, if IR maize technology had not been available to farmers in 2018, maintaining production levels for this year using conventional technology would have required the planting of an additional 15,240 ha of agricultural land to maize in the two countries. This equates to about 3.5% of the total area planted to maize in these two countries in 2018. Over the 21-year period, the land-saving equivalent derived from the extra production of GM IR maize has been 188,890 ha. Twenty-one years of using insect resistant (GM) maize in Spain and Portugal: farm-level economic and environmental contributions All authors Graham Brookes https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393 TABLE 5. Additional maize production from positive yield effects of IR maize (‘000 tonnes). CSVDisplay Table

Impacts on the Environment Associated with Insecticide Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions GM IR maize traits have contributed to a reduction in the environmental impact associated with insecticide use on a significant proportion of the areas devoted to these crops. Since 1998, the use of insecticides on the Spanish GM IR crop area was reduced by 678,000 kg of active ingredient (−37% reduction), and the environmental impact associated with insecticide use on these crops, as measured by the EIQ indicator7 Kovach JC, Degni PJ, Tette J. A method to measure the environmental impact of pesticides. Geneva: New York‘s Food and Life Sciences Bulletin. NYS Agricul. Exp. Sta. Cornell University; 1992. 39. 8., fell by 21% (Table 6). Twenty-one years of using insect resistant (GM) maize in Spain and Portugal: farm-level economic and environmental contributions All authors Graham Brookes https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2019.1614393 TABLE 6. Impact of using GM IR maize in Spain and Portugal: changes in insecticide use and associated environmental impact (as measured by EIQ indicator) 1998–2018. CSVDisplay Table The scope for impacts on greenhouse gas emissions associated with GM IR maize use comes from one principal source; fuel savings associated with less frequent insecticide applications. As indicated in the baseline, the maize area regularly treated with insecticides for the control of the ECB and MSB pests before the availability of GM IR seed technology was limited to about 10% of the total crop in Spain and few farms in Portugal. As a result, the potential maximum savings in fuel use arising from fewer insecticide treatments is limited. Thus, over the 21-year period, 1998–2018 of GM IR use in Spain, the total savings have been equal to 1.58 million kg of carbon dioxide not released into the atmosphere, arising from less fuel use of 593,000 liters. This is equivalent to taking 980 cars off the road for a year. To provide context, this represents a very small, positive contribution to greenhouse gas reduction when compared to the 23.5 million cars registered in Spain (2017: source Eurostat). The adoption of GM IR maize has also provided other environmental benefits. The reduced spraying of insecticides has also resulted in water usage savings. Over the 21 years, 1998–2018, the area no longer sprayed with insecticides for the control of ECB and MSB in Spain has been about 705,000 ha, which has resulted in water usage savings of between 141,000 and 705,000 m3 of water (see appendix 1 for assumptions). On an annual basis (average over the last five years), there is a reduced spray area of about 36,260 ha, resulting in an insecticide application water saving of between 7,250 and 36,260 m3. Indirectly, the GM IR technology has also contributed to water savings through the higher yields/additional production of maize. If this extra production had otherwise been derived from conventional (non-GM) technology, an additional area equal to nearly 189,000 ha in Spain and Portugal would have needed to have been planted to conventional maize in the 1998–2018 period. Based on estimated usage of irrigation water in maize production in Spain (source: Ariel and Riesgo8 Areal F, Riesgo L. Benefits of Bt maize in Spain (1998-2015). Benefits from an economic, social and environmental viewpoint. Paper prepared for Fundacion Antama; 2016; Madrid, Spain. www.funacion-antama.org: see appendix 1) this suggests that the additional irrigation water required to produce conventional maize on this area is equal to about 1,042 million m3 of water. On an annual basis (average over the last five years), the additional area of conventional maize that would be required to be planted to produce the equivalent of the extra production derived from the GM IR technology is about 16,780 ha and this would have used an additional 94.7 million m3 of water (89.4 million m3 in Spain and 5.3 million m3 in Portugal). Within each country, these volumes of water saved by the use of GM IR technology are respectively equal to about 0.5% and 0.2% of total annual water used for irrigation in agriculture (source derived from and based on Eurostat, 2010).

Other Impacts The ECB and MCB pests damage maize crops making them susceptible to fungal damage and the development/build up of fumonisins (a group of cancer-causing mycotoxins produced by a number of fusarium mold species) in the grain. This increases the possibility of grain failing to meet the maximum permitted thresholds for the presence of these toxins, as laid down in Regulation (EC) 1126/2007. A number of studies have identified that the use of GM IR maize has, through a significant reduction in pest damage and the levels of fumonisins found in grains, led to an improvement in grain quality.9 Folcher L, Delos M, Marengue E, Jarry M, Weissenberger A, Eychenne N, Regnault-Roer C. Lower mycotoxin levels in Bt maize. Agron Sustainable Dev. 2010;30:711–19. doi:10.1051/agro/2010005.,10 Bakan B, Melcion D, Richard-Molard D, Canagnier B. Fungal growth and fusarium mycotoxin content in isogenic traditional maize and GM maize grown in France and Spain. J Agric Food Chem. 2002;50:728–31. This then is likely to result in less maize being rejected by users in both the food and feed using sectors (the author is not aware of any publicly available data that has examined this issue). The adoption of GM IR maize has also provided a number of other benefits, identified in analysis such as Brookes.4 Brookes G. The impact of using GM insect resistant maize in Europe since 1998. Int J Biotechnol. 2008;10(2/3):148–66. doi:10.1504/IJBT.2008.018351. These include improved production risk management, with the seed technology being seen by many farmers as a form of insurance against ECB/MCB damage. Farmers have also been able to reduce the amount of time spent crop walking to monitor levels of pest pressure and the technology has made harvesting easier because of fewer problems of fallen crops (ECB/MCB damaged crops are easily flattened by late summer winds).3 Brookes G. The farm level impact of using Bt maize in Spain. 7th ICABR conference on public goods and public policy for agricultural biotechnology; 2003; Ravello, Italy. [ ]. http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/bt_maize_in_spain.pdf Whilst, there is no data available on the time saving derived from these changes, the gains are likely to be limited (e.g., savings associated with reduced insecticide application, where applicable have been typically only one treatment) but valued by farmers because it has freed up more time for other on-farm or off-farm activities. It is noteworthy that the evidence presented above in this paper has identified largely positive impacts associated with the use of GM IR technology in the maize crops of Spain and Portugal. Examining whether any negative economic or environmental impacts have occurred, there is a lack of evidence of negative impacts in the peer reviewed literature relating to the adoption of this maize-seed technology in Spain or Portugal (or worldwide). The use, implementation and reasonable adherence to refuge and coexistence requirements by farmers of GM IR maize crops in Spain and Portugal has probably contributed to this.