Washington, DC
April 14, 2009
Source:
Biotechnology Industry Organization
(BIO)
Crops improved through
biotechnology are being adopted by farmers around the world
because of the benefits this science delivers. Biotech traits,
such as insect and herbicide tolerance, help to increase yields
by protecting plants that would otherwise be lost due to insects
or weeds. Many experts agree that agricultural biotechnology has
an important role to play in helping to feed and fuel a growing
world.
A report titled "Failure
to Yield: Evaluating the Performance of Genetically Engineered
Crops,” released today by the
Union of Concerned Scientists
(USC) questions biotechnology's ability to increase crop yields.
Despite impressive increases in crop production statistics since
the introduction of agricultural biotechnology in 1996, USC
claims these successes are not due to genetic engineering.
Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Executive Vice President, Food and
Agriculture for the Biotechnology
Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement
in response to the report:
"Biotech crops help to provide for more sustainable agricultural
production. The benefits include a reduction in the
environmental impacts of agriculture, increased production on
the same amount of acreage, improved food quality, and increased
farmer incomes.
"It's absurd to deny biotechnology's contribution, among other
factors, to increased crop production. Since the introduction of
agricultural biotechnology in 1996, we have seen double-digit
growth in corn and soybean yields.
Specifically, according to the USDA Annual Summary Crop
Production Report, 2009:
- In the United States,
where today 80 percent of the nation's corn acreage is
planted with biotechnology varieties, yields have increased
36 percent since 1995, the last year before biotech
varieties were commercially planted.
- With about 92 percent of
the U.S. soybean acreage now planted with biotech varieties,
soybean yields have increased 12 percent since 1995.
"The fact is, marker-assisted
breeding has nearly doubled the rate of yield gain when compared
to traditional breeding alone. In developing countries, where
resources to effectively control weeds and insects are often
limited, these traits have increased yield substantially.
"When you look at the rising number of acres of biotech crops
planted each year (309 million in 2008) and the increasing
number of farmers who have chosen this technology (13.3 million
in 2008), it's obvious that biotech crops are delivering value
to more and more growers around the world.
"When farmer surveys have been conducted on yield benefits from
biotech crops, the results have been overwhelmingly positive,
with farmers finding their crop yields have increased. These
benefits accrue to farmers with both large and small farms.
"At a time when the United States and the world are looking for
science-based solutions to help meet the demands of a growing
population, agricultural biotechnology is able to deliver
heartier crops that yield more per acre in a more
environmentally and economically sustainable way. The
biotechnology industry is committed to providing solutions to
enlist in that effort.”
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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