Dr. Michael P. Phillips, executive director for food and agriculture of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) issued the following statement in response to today's U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service grower planting intentions for genetically modified crops.

"It is no surprise to see that U.S. farmers plan to increase their plantings of crops enhanced through biotechnology. Today's report clearly reflects the continued high confidence U.S. farmers have placed in seeds improved through biotechnology. Since their introduction, we have seen a yearly increase in the percentage of acres planted with biotech seeds in nearly every single crop category. Farmers continue to choose the biotech alternative to help them better manage crop production.

"Clearly, the benefits of these improved seed varieties help farmers to strengthen crops by making them more resistant to disease, increase crop yields, and reduce the use of pesticides."

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in all 50 U.S. states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service March 28, 2002 Prospective Plantings report is available
- as a PDF file at http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/pspl0302.pdf
- as a text file at http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/pspl0302.txt
Biotech seed plantings estimates are on pages 20-21 of the PDF file.

Source: Biotechnology Industry Organization