Impact of Bt cotton in China

A sample of 283 cotton farmers in Northern China was surveyed in December 1 999. Farmers that used cotton engineered to produce the Bacillus thuringien sis (Bt) toxin substantially reduced the use of pesticide without reducing the output/ha or quality of cotton. This resulted in substantial economic b enefits for small farmers. Consumers did not benefit directly. Farmers obta ined the major share of benefits and because of weak intellectual property rights very little went back to government research institutes or foreign f irms that developed these varieties. Farmers using Bt cotton reported fewer pesticide poisonings than those using conventional cotton. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.