Chicago, Illinois
May 9, 2005
Farmer leaders from the
American Soybean Association (ASA), the
National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) and the National Cotton
Council of America (NCC) met in Chicago
today to recognize the planting of the one-billionth acre of
biotech-enhanced agricultural commodities. Representatives from
Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) were also on hand to
talk about an acreage counter that is being used to track the
planting of biotech acres around the world.
"U.S. farmers are
adopting biotechnology because they recognize the safety,
benefits and potential of biotechnology," said Darrin Ihnen, a
South Dakota farmer who serves as Chairman of NCGA’s
Biotechnology Working Group. "As a farmer, it’s important that I
find ways to become more efficient in my operation.
Biotechnology helps reduce the amount of insecticides and
herbicides I use."
Biotechnology also
results in less soil erosion, less fuel emissions and less
herbicide carryover, which provides for healthier groundwater,
rivers and streams.
"The one billionth
acre of biotech crops has been planted and I’m thrilled that we
are acknowledging this milestone," states Dean Kleckner, an Iowa
farmer and Chairman of TATT. "The astonishing speed with which
farmers from around the world have
adopted this technology is significant."
Given the world’s
growing population, the United Nations Population Fund reports
that farmers will have to produce about 75 percent more food per
acre by 2020 to meet anticipated demand.
"Farmers are both
producers and consumers of the food and fiber that comes from
our farms," said Neal Bredehoeft, a Missouri farmer who serves
as ASA President. "This dual position helps us recognize that
biotechnology is another in a long line of advancements that
have helped make our supply of food and fiber the safest and
healthiest in the world."
Globally, 6
percent of canola, 11 percent of cotton, 23 percent of corn and
60 percent of soybeans are grown from biotech-enhanced
seedstock.
“I'm looking forward to the next generation of
biotech products' traits to enhance
fiber quality, improve food safety, impart stress tolerance to
plants and allow plants to grow in saline soils,” said Craig
Shook, a Texas cotton producer who serves as NCC
Secretary-Treasurer.
BACKGROUND
· Included in the one billion biotech acres
figure are 2 million acres of crops such as papaya, squash,
and potatoes, and 61.7 million acres of canola. It also
includes 113.9 million acres of cotton, 247 million acres of
corn and 575.4 million acres of soybeans.
· Globally, 6 percent of canola, 11 percent
of cotton, 23 percent of corn and 60 percent of soybeans are
grown from biotech-enhanced seedstock.
· In 2004, while 59 percent of all
biotech-enhanced crops were planted in the U.S., the other
41 percent of biotech crops were planted in the countries of
Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, Paraguay, India, South
Africa, Uruguay, Australia, Romania, Mexico, Spain and the
Philippines. Last year, 50,000 or more hectares, that’s
roughly equivalent to 123,000 or more acres, of
biotech-enhanced crops were grown in each of these
countries.
· Crop biotechnology has led to reduced
tillage practices across all crops with biotech traits.
These reduced tillage practices are saving 1 billion tons of
topsoil annually, reducing by 309 million gallons the amount
of fuels used by farmers and decreasing greenhouse gases
released by 1 billion pounds. Biotechnology has decreased
pesticide applications by 46 million pounds and is saving
U.S. consumers $3.5 billion in water treatment and
management costs.
· Crop biotechnology has increased net
income for farmers by $1.9 billion due to reduced cost of
production by $1.47 billion and increasing yields by 5.3
billion pounds, which has increased gross revenues by $409
million.
· It is a misconception that plant
biotechnology research is confined to private companies in
rich countries. According to a new report, 63 developing
countries are conducting plant biotech research across 57
different crops. There are real-world examples showing how
biotechnology is helping people improve their diets and
their incomes.
ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES
http://www.ncga.com/biotechnology/main/index.html
http://www.soygrowers.com/biotech/
http://www.cotton.org/tech/biotech/Expert-Panel-Biotech-Cotton-Full.cfm
http://www.truthabouttrade.org
http://www.tomorrowsbounty.org/
http://www.isaaa.org/
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