John P. Purcell and Frederick J. Perlak
Monsanto Company
Insect-resistant (Bt) cotton has been rapidly adopted since its introduction in 1996. Farmers around the worldboth large and smallholdersbenefit from this technology through increased productivity, convenience, and time savings. The vast majority of farmers using Bt cotton globally are smallholder farmers. The economic, environmental, and social benefits derived from adoption of this important tool have very positive implications for the farmers, their surrounding communities, and the future of agriculture.
Key words: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); insect-resistant cotton; smallholder farmers; economic, environmental and social impact