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Another aspect of GM foods is their cost. If the cost is prohibitively high, poor farmers will be unable to grow GM crops and will, by default, be required to grow crops conventionally. When considering the cost of growing a crop, one must examine the initial cost for seed, the susceptibility of the cultivar to disease, the amount and number of pesticides needed to protect the crops, the yield and how much time and labor will be required for a successful season. Although the cost of GM seed is higher than for conventional seed, savings are seen in the other areas. In 2001 the chairman of ISAAA, Dr. James, noted that of the $20 Billion of cotton grown annually, 70% is grown in developing countries. In general, 5 million farmers in 13 countries grow GM crops and 75% of those farmers are resource-poor. One reason farmers use GM crops is because many are less susceptible to disease and insects. This means less pesticide is needed, less money is spent on the crop and more yield is harvested because it has not been lost to insect damage and disease. For Bt cotton which is insect resistant, 50% less pesticide is needed during the growing season. This is important since conventional cotton has required $5 Billion annually and 20% of the global insecticide to produce less cotton than the GM cotton has produced with 50% less insecticide. In 2001, the use of Bt cotton saved 10,500 Metric TONS of active insecticide ingredient from being used. This means 10,500 Metric Tons of pesticide runoff was prevented from contaminating the aquifer and local water sources. Furthermore, since farmers in China and South Africa apply insecticides by hand, the use of Bt cotton allows significantly less exposure. As for Bt cotton yield, it has increased by 5-10% in China, 10% in the U.S. and Mexico and 25% in South Africa. In China, this means the amount of seed cotton produced on 1.5 Million hectares has increased by 514,000 Metric TONS. In 2005, China and Argentina had begun producing more than they consume and were considering exporting some of their excess. In the U.S. in 2001 Bt cotton increased the economic gain by $50/hectare and $100 Million nationally. In China, the gain was $500 Million/hectare and $750 Million nationally. In China, this increased economic gain means farmers have higher incomes and allows poor farmers to spend more on food and greater nutrition. Just as important is the time and labor Bt cotton saves. In South Africa, 50% of the farmers are women. Bt cotton allows

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