本人文章数据首先来自路透社报道“转基因作物使农药用量大幅度增加”: Biotech crops cause big jump in pesticide use, Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:09am EST, http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AG0QY20091117 。 (Reuters) - The rapid adoption by U.S. farmers of genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton has promoted increased use of pesticides, an epidemic of herbicide-resistant weeds and more chemical residues in foods, according to a report issued Tuesday by health and environmental protection groups. The groups said research showed that herbicide use grew by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, with 46 percent of the total increase occurring in 2007 and 2008. The report was released by nonprofits The Organic Center (TOC), the Union for Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Center for Food Safety (CFS).
同时,美国农业部官员就质疑做了简单答复(见:Federal Register 2475 Vol. 75, No. 10/Friday, January 15, 2010)。该官员的原始文字是:“The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is charged with the responsibility of providing reliable, up-to-date information concerning the Nation's crop and livestock production, prices, and disposition, as well as environmental statistics. This includes estimates of production and value of key nursery products and chemical use by nursery and floriculture production operations. Congress appropriated funds for the collection of pesticide use data on nursery and floriculture operations. This data will expand the existing NASS pesticide database that contains comprehensive annual pesticide use reports. NASS will collect the information using surveys. The authority for these data collection activities is granted under U.S. Code Title 7, Section 2204.”