Farmers
around the world continue to plant more acres to genetically-modified
crops, mainly corn and soybeans.
Last
year the total hit 185.1 million hectares (about 457 million acres),
according to the International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).
“Biotech
crops have become a vital agricultural resource for farmers around
the world because of the immense benefits for improved productivity
and profitability,” according to ISAAA chair of the board, Paul S.
Teng.
“With
the commercial approvals and plantings of new varieties of biotech
potatoes and apples, consumers will begin to enjoy direct benefits of
biotechnology with produce that is not likely to spoil or be damaged,
which in turn has the potential to substantially reduce food waste
and consumer grocery costs,” he said.
According
to the ISAAA report, using biotech crops has the carbon dioxide
reduction equivalent of removing 12 million cars from the road each
year. They also help farmers apply an estimated 19 per cent fewer
herbicide and insecticide use.
Randy
Hautea, ISAAA global coordinator, says in developing countries,
biotech crops are helping boost incomes for 18 million small farmers
and their families, which provides financial stability to up to 65
million people worldwide.
“Biotechnology
is one of the tools necessary in helping farmers grow more food on
less land,” he says.
“However,
the promises of biotech crops can only be unlocked if farmers are
able to buy and plant these crops, following a scientific approach to
regulatory reviews and approvals.”
ISAAA
expects worldwide adoption of biotech crops, particularly in
developing nations, to continue to trend upward. Developing nations
account for 54 per cent of total biotech acres.
Globally,
78 cent of soybeans, 64 per cent of cotton, 26 per cent of corn and
24 per cent of canola are biotech varieties.
What these industry promotors don't mention is that demand for food produced under organic-organization standards, which don't allow GMOs, has been increasing steadily and rapidly across North America.
