European Commission, Institute of Prospective Technological Studies, Joint Research Center, Ed. Expo, c/Inca Garcilaso 3, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
N Biotechnol. 2013 Jan 25;30(2):131-5. doi: 10.1016/j.nbt.2012.11.004. Epub 2012 Dec 1.
In 2007, a genetically modified herbicide tolerant (GMHT) sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) tolerant against glyphosate, a commonly used broad spectrum herbicide, was commercialised in the USA and Canada. The speed of uptake of GMHT sugar beet by farmers has no precedent. While it took the hitherto most successful GM crop in the USA 15 years to reach an adoption rate of 95%, GMHT sugar beet achieved this figure after only 2 years. This paper traces the history of GMHT sugar beet which started at the European continent and describes the economic and environmental impact of its introduction in the USA. The results suggest that the rapid adoption is economically sound with adopter rents averaging $257/ha. Moreover the adoption has a high potential to reduce the environmental impact of sugar beet production. Will these experiences bring GMHT sugar beet back to its roots in Europe?
2007 年，一种耐草甘膦的转基因（GMHT）饲用甜菜（Beta vulgaris L.）在美国和加拿大实现了商业化，该品种能够耐受草甘膦，草甘膦是一种常用的广谱除草剂。农民对 GMHT 饲用甜菜的接受速度前所未有。虽然迄今为止美国最成功的转基因作物用了 15 年才达到 95%的采用率，但 GMHT 饲用甜菜仅用了 2 年就达到了这一数字。本文追溯了 GMHT 饲用甜菜的历史，该历史始于欧洲大陆，并描述了其在美国引入所带来的经济和环境影响。结果表明，这种快速采用在经济上是合理的，采用者的租金平均为 257 美元/公顷。此外，这种采用有很大潜力可以减少甜菜生产的环境影响。这些经验会让 GMHT 饲用甜菜回到其欧洲根源吗？
