Biotech food production, a new study
Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) quantifies significant increases in
farm income, food production and reductions in pesticide use that
may resultfrom wider use of agricultural biotechnology in the
United States.
A new report issued by the US National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) quantifies significant increases in farm income, food production and reductions in pesticide use that may resultfrom wider use of agricultural biotechnology in the United States.
"This report is a valuable resource to policy makers, consumers, foodcompanies, farming organisations and anyone concerned about the future ofthe American food supply," said Gene Grabowski, spokesperson for theAlliance for Better Foods, a US forum for discussions about developments in food biotechnology. "NCFAP should be commended for making such animportant contribution to our understanding of the potential ofbiotechnology, and for defining many of the implications that may resultfrom decisions to produce or reject biotech crops."
The report, "Plant Biotechnology: Current and Potential Impact for Improving PestManagement in US Agriculture An Analysis of 40 Case Studies" wasreleased on Monday in Toronto at BIO 2002, an annual trade convention ofthe biotechnology industry, by Leonard Gianessi, primary authorand programme director of NCFAP.
Composed of 40 case studies of 27 crops grown in the United States, thereport compares the observed and potential impacts of biotech crops versusconventionally bred crops. According to a statement this week from the NCFAP, the study finds that American farmers canreduce their dependence on pesticides by as much as 163 million poundsannually and increase their annual profitability by $2.5 billion insavings and increased productivity through the increased use of biotechcrops varieties.
"NCFAP's study shows that we have only scratched the surface of biotech'sbenefits to our environment and food production," said Grabowski.
Currently, six of the 27 crops evaluated are grown in the United States -soybeans, corn, cotton, papaya, squash and canola. These crops aloneproduce an additional 4 billion pounds of food and fibre without expandingagricultural acreage, improve farm income by $1.5 billion and reducepesticide usage by 46 million pounds.
The study found that if farmers converted to biotech varieties of anadditional 21 crops available, production could increase by another 10billion pounds, farm income would improve by an additional $1 billion andpesticide usage could be decreased by an additional 117 million pounds.
The study was commissioned by the RockefellerFoundation, and additional funding was provided by the GroceryManufacturers of America, the Biotechnology Industry Organisation,CropLife America, the Council for Biotechnology Information and Monsanto.
