Curitiba, Brazil
March 14, 2006
Source:
CropLife International
Agricultural
biotechnology is necessary for the conservation and
enhancement of biodiversity. As officials from 132 nations
meet in Brazil this week for a UN meeting under the
Biosafety Protocol, the plant science industry reminds
governments of the vital role biotech innovations play in
achieving sustainable agriculture and development:
- Biotech crops are
essential to conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity - the overall objective of the Biosafety
Protocol. They enable more efficient use of water in
agriculture, reduce soil erosion, prevent loss of
biodiversity, and increase air quality. By making farming
more efficient on limited land area, they are critical for
preventing habitat destruction - the biggest single threat
to biodiversity.
- Biotechnology is an
established technology, having been used in research for
more than 30 years, and with biotech crops commercially
available for more than 10 years. In this time, there has
been no proven harm to humans or the environment.
- These crops are delivering
major benefits to farmers and society, through increased
yields, higher incomes, simplified crop management, and, in
some cases, reductions in the use of pesticides.
- Global planted area of
biotech crops has soared by more than fifty-fold from 1.7
million hectares in six countries in 1996 to 90 million
hectares in 21 countries in 2005. Last year, some 8.5
million farmers planted biotech crops - mostly in developing
countries. This is because small scale farmers tend to
benefit most from biotech crops, as insect and disease
protected crops provide new and previously unavailable tools
to combat pest problems.
- A study by PG Economics
released last October showed that farmers using
biotechnology increased their incomes by US$27 billion
during the period 1996 to 2004 with significant
environmental benefits delivered. Importantly, the
accumulative economic benefits during the nine years to
developing countries ($15 billion), exceeded benefits to
industrial countries ($12 billion).
As the biotech debate takes
place in Curitiba, Brazilian farmers will be reaping their
first legal harvest of biotech soybeans, having been given
the green light from regulators in 2005. Brazil is the
third largest country user of biotech crops (behind the USA
and Argentina) and the largest user of all Parties to the
Biosafety Protocol.
"Given the important economic,
environmental and human health benefits of biotechnology, we
simply cannot understand why many activists are trying to
use the Biosafety Protocol to deny farmers and consumers
around the world the ability to use these products for years
to come," stated Christian Verschueren, Director General,
CropLife International.
"Let's hope that farmers'
voices, safety, and consumer interests will be taken into
consideration this week so that decisions are taken on key
issues - including documentation requirements, risk
assessment and capacity building - that will ensure those
who want to provide for the future sustainably, can continue
to use this technology," he continued.
CropLife International has
recently made available an online database of peer-reviewed
scientific studies on the benefits and safety of biotech
crops. This can be accessed at
www.croplife.org/biotechdatabase.
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