Washington, DC
July 1, 2009
Source:
BIO
American farmers have adopted
genetically engineered (GE) crops widely since their
introduction in 1996, especially corn, cotton and soybean
varieties, according to a new USDA report.
USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) report,
Adoption of
Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S. was released July
1, 2009. Key findings include:
• Adoption of GE soybeans
is 91 percent in 2009.
• Adoption of all GE cotton reached 88 percent in 2009.
• Adoption of all biotech corn climbed to 85 percent in
2009.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Executive
Vice President, Food and Agriculture for the Biotechnology
Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement in
response to the report's findings:
"Because of the compelling
benefits that biotech crops provide, herbicide-tolerant and
insect-resistant varieties of corn, cotton and soybeans
continue to be the choice of American farmers. Since 1996,
these crops have proved to yield more per acre and reduce
farmers' production costs with more environmentally friendly
farming practices.
"The move to biotechnology and modern farming practices is
reflected in the choices of farmers around the world. In
2008, 309 million acres of biotech crops were planted in 25
countries by 13.3 million farmers. At a time when the United
States and the world are looking for sustainable,
science-based solutions to rising food and fuel demands,
this trend is likely to continue.
"Agricultural biotechnology has significant environmental
benefits because biotech crop varieties thrive with less
tilling and fewer pesticide applications, thereby saving
fuel and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the
air. In 2007, this was equivalent to removing 14.2 billion
kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, or equal to
removing nearly 6.3 million cars from the road for one year.
"The next generation of biotech crops, with resistance to
environmental stresses such as drought and flood, and the
ability to better use soil nutrients, promise to increase
productivity in areas with less than adequate growing
conditions, including many developing countries. And we
continue to discover new energy sources with biofuels made
from corn, wood, grasses, algae and non-edible parts of
plants- such as cornstalks.
"Farmers in the United States and around the world recognize
how biotechnology improves their bottom line by reducing
their costs and increasing crop productivity. Agricultural
biotechnology is providing science-based solutions to the
challenges that we face today and tomorrow to more
sustainably feed and fuel the world.”
The report summarizes the extent
of adoption of herbicide-tolerant and insect–resistant crops
since their introduction in 1996. Three tables within the report
devoted to corn, cotton, and soybeans cover the 2000-09 period
by U.S. state.
A copy of the USDA ERS report, Adoption of Genetically
Engineered Crops in the U.S. (July 1, 2009) including data
tables is posted at
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops.
BIO represents more than 1,200 biotechnology companies,
academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related
organizations across the United States and in more than 30 other
nations. BIO members are involved in the research and
development of innovative healthcare, agricultural, industrial
and environmental biotechnology products. BIO also produces the
BIO International Convention, the world's largest gathering of
the biotechnology industry, along with industry-leading investor
and partnering meetings held around the world. |
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