Brand Positioning Platform v2

The Socio-Economic Benefits of Crop Protection Products

Crop Protection Benefits Extend Beyond Agriculture• Agriculture remains one of the country’s biggest economic drivers,

and crop protection products are the foundation of the U.S.’s successful agricultural system

• Crop protection’s benefits extend beyond agriculture into other sectors to create jobs, conserve environmental resources, help families save at the grocery store, and remain competitive in global trade

Crop Protection Benefits

• Crop protection benefits in the U.S. include:

• The creation of 1,040,661 jobs that generate more than $33 billion in wages;

• The reduction of fossil fuel use by 558 million gallons per year;

• Increased yields which allow for an average of $98 billion of food to be exported annually, accounting for roughly 10% of all U.S. export revenues, while the U.S. imports less than $75 billion in food.*

* Source: “The Contribution of Crop Protection Products to the United States Economy,” 2011, www.croplifeamerica.org/economic-impact

Economic Value on U.S. Farms Added With the Use of Crop Protection Products

Spin-off Benefits in the U.S.

• Crop protection products “spin-off” benefits generate over $166.5 billion in wealth across 20 industries

• Sectors that benefit from crop protection spin-offs include:

State-by-State Benefits• Every U.S. state receives a positive economic spin-off (increased output, employment and earnings) from the use of crop protection products • Additional crop value created by crop protection led to 1.05 million jobs and a payroll of $33.9 billion for U.S. workers

Crop Protection’s Impact on Food Prices

Grocery ItemAverage Annual

Expenditures of a U.S. Family

Modeled Price (w/o the benefits of crop protection

products)

Percent Savings in Grocery Bills (w/

the benefit of crop protection products)

Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

$598 $1,095 45%

Cereal & Cereal Products

$263 $843 69%

Socio-Economic Benefits of Crop Protection Products in Developed Countries

• From 1996 – 2009, plant technologies:

• Increased crop production and value adding up to $65 billion (U.S. dollars);

• Reduced CO2 emissions in 2009 by 18 billion kilograms, equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road;

• Conserved biodiversity by saving 75 million ha. of land;

• Helped alleviate poverty by assisting 14.4 million small farmers.

Plant science research and development is vital to the growth of agriculture in Europe, and for agriculture’s continued competitiveness in global trade.

Socio-Economic Benefits of Crop Protection Products in Developing Countries

• Agriculture supports the livelihood of 80% of the African population and provides employment for 60 - 70% of the population

• Agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa reduces the number of poor by 2-3 million, or.0.8 percent, annually

• From 1996-2008, the cumulative farm

income gain derived by developing countries from GM crops was $26.2 billion

Innovation Continues to Drive the Industry Forward

• Estimated returns to investment in agricultural R&D are high in all regions – averaging 43% a year;

• In the UK alone, the plant science sector underpins a food supply chain worth more than £85 billion and employing over 3.5 million people, yet without access to new technology and innovation, the UK risks losing out to competition from emerging economies such Brazil, China and India;

• Agricultural research in sub-Saharan Africa reduces number of poor by 2.3 million annually.

SOURCES• “The Contribution of Crop Protection Products to the

United States Economy,” 2011, www.croplifeamerica.org/economic-impact

• European Crop Protection Association: www.ecpa.eu

• CropLife International: www.croplife.org