Washington, DC
February 11, 2009
Farmers around the world continue
to enthusiastically embrace genetically engineered (GE) crops
according to a report released today by the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications
(ISAAA).
The ISAAA report, The Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM
Crops: 2008, says a record 13.3 million farmers in 25 countries
are using agricultural biotechnology today. Ninety percent (12.3
million) of these are resource-poor farmers in 15 developing
countries.
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:
"The ISAAA report further illustrates what we have known all
along, that biotechnology is a key component contributing to
sustainable agriculture. Ag biotech provides solutions for
today's farmers in the form of plants that yield more per acre,
resist diseases and insect pests and reduce farmers' production
costs, and 'inputs'.
"When you look at the rising number of acres of biotech crops
planted each year (309 million in 2008 compared with 282 million
in 2007) and the increasing number of farmers who have chosen
this technology (13.3 million in 2008 compared with 12 million
in 2007), it's obvious that biotech crops are delivering value
to more and more growers around the world.
"In the United States more than 154 million acres of biotech
crops were planted in 2008, up from 143 million acres in 2007.
The primary biotech crops grown in the United States are corn,
cotton, canola and soybeans, but also squash, papaya, alfalfa,
and sugarbeet.
"At a time when the United States and the world are looking for
science-based solutions to help feed a growing population,
agricultural biotechnology is able to deliver heartier crops
that produce more food, often in areas with less-than-perfect
growing conditions.
"Ag biotechnology also has environmental benefits because
biotech crop varieties require less cultivation and fewer
pesticide applications, thereby saving fuel and reducing carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions into the air. This also improves soil
health and water retention.
"The trends we see today will likely continue. The next
generation of biotech crops with resistance to additional
diseases and increased tolerance for environmental stresses like
drought and flooding will boost productivity even more. And
we'll see increased demand for biotech foods that have been
nutritionally enhanced or engineered to help combat human
disease.
"The findings of this report prove that the United States and
countries around the world are turning to science and technology
to meet today's challenges in agriculture, food and energy
production. The biotechnology industry is committed to providing
solutions to enlist in that effort.”
* The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech
Applications (ISAAA) report, Global Status of Commercialized
Biotech/GM Crops: 2008 and accompanying materials are posted at
www.isaaa.org.
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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