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Food & Agriculture   pg.2 >

Biotech crop acreage numbers released in January 200 show doubledigit growth for the 10th straight year since these crops were introduced. According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, farmers planted 222 million acres of genetically enhanced crops in 2005, an 11 percent increase. The year also brought the planting of the 1 billionth acre of biotech crops.

In all, a record 8.5 million farmers in 21 countries planted biotech corps, mostly corn, soy and cotton. More than 90 percent of those farmers are located in developing nations.

In June 2005, BIO President & CEO James Greenwood discussed the benefits of biotechnology in his first appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving the House of Representatives to lead BIO. At a hearing of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Greenwood said agricultural biotechnology has been the most rapidly adopted technology in the history of food production because it helps farmers solve their big "E" challenges:

• Protecting the environment.
• Conserving energy.
• Improving the agricultural economy.
• Enhancing crop benefits.
• Improving crop endurance in the face of disease, pests and weather.

He explained, “A biotechnology-based agricultural system is a renewable method to conserve our farmland, providing opportunities for future generations of America’s farm families to remain as stewards of their land and leave a softer footprint on the environment which we all share.”

Not only are farmers using biotechnology in record numbers, scientists continue to increase their understanding and knowledge of plants and animals through genome sequencing projects and related research. In 2005, the rice and dog genomes were mapped, and projects to sequence soybean, corn and sheep genomes also were announced.

NEW CONSUMER BENEFIT IN THE PIPELINE

The genome projects and other agricultural biotechnology research are creating the foundation for a new generation of more plentiful and healthful foods.

“While the first generation of plant biotech products directly benefited farmers and the environment, the next generation of plant biotech research is focused on providing consumer benefits, including the development of biotech plants that offer increased nutrition and health benefits,” said Sean Darragh, BIO’s Executive Vice President for Food and Agriculture.

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