Sustainability of the Economic Benefit of Bt Cotton in China: Results from Household Surveys

Fangbin Qiao and Jikun Huang

Journal of Development Studies, 2020, vol. 56, issue 11, 2045-2060

Abstract: In recent years, the sustainability of the economic benefit of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crops has been subject to substantial debate. Using seven rounds of household survey data, this study shows that the economic benefit continued for 15 years after the commercialisation of Bt cotton in China. Owing to Bt cotton adoption, farmers have saved 8.46 billion US dollars on pesticide use during 1997–2012. This number is more than double if the benefits of increased yield, decreased labour use, and increased seed cost are considered. More importantly, the total quantity of pesticides used has been reduced by 2.19 million tons nationally during 1997–2012.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2019.1640872

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