Congressional & Ag Leaders Celebrate 10 Years of Biotechnology
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 22, 2005 – Congressional and agriculture leaders gathered today to mark the 10th year of commercial biotechnology in the U.S. Also of significance, this year farmers will plant and harvest the 1 billionth acre of biotech crops globally. At a press event on Capitol Hill, co-chairs of the House Biotechnology Caucus and growers from around the nation marked these important milestones.
“Agricultural biotechnology is one of the most promising developments in modern science. For 10 years and a billion acres, farmers have embraced this technology because it can help to provide answers to the problems of world hunger, improve our environment and enhance farm productivity and profitability,” said Co-Chairman of the House Biotech Caucus and Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.).
“Biotechnology has been an avenue to allow grain producers in my district to remain efficient and competitive,” said Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.). “I look forward to working as a co-chair of the House Biotechnology Caucus to develop policies to make U.S. biotech products more attractive in the global economy.”
Ensuring access to international markets for products of agricultural biotechnology is crucial for future trade of U.S. farm and ranch products.
“I am proud to co-chair the Congressional Biotechnology Caucus, because I believe that through biotechnology we – as a nation and as a world will come closer to fulfilling the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King – that one day, everywhere, people will have three meals a day for their bodies...and dignity, equality and freedom,” said Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.).
“Advances in biotechnology have helped people all over the world by increasing crop yields, lowering prices for consumers, and providing a safe and nutritious food supply,” said Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.). “With 10 years of proven successes through extensive scientific research here in the U.S., it is time to devote more resources and attention to the biotechnology industry. This is a smart investment that will strengthen our economy and provide greater stability for our farm families.”
In the United States, biotech crops generated $27.5 billion of gross revenues for farmers in 2003-04.
“Glyphosate [used in common products like Roundup®] resistant varieties now account for more than 80 percent of U.S. soybean production,” said Bob Metz, president of the American Soybean Association. “The advantages of reduced herbicide and energy costs, higher yields, and improved environmental stewardship have been clearly demonstrated over the past decade.”
Reducing pesticide use in agriculture helps conserve water and fuel since less energy and water are used to manufacture, distribute and apply pesticide products. In addition to reducing the overall number of pesticide applications, biotech crops have allowed farmers to substitute herbicides with more favorable environmental characteristics that help reduce environmental impact.
“New biotech plant varieties are currently in development to produce crops high in essential vitamins and minerals, as well as crops with higher conversion rates for renewable fuels, like ethanol. In the future we will also see salt, cold and drought-tolerant plants,” said South Carolina Farm Bureau President David Winkles, a corn, cotton and soybean producer, who represented the American Farm Bureau Federation at the event. “Adoption of technologies, like biotech, has made American farmers the most efficient producers in the world.”
For instance, according to a 2002 National Cotton Council report, 80 percent of cotton growers are making fewer tillage passes and 75 percent are leaving more crop residue due to herbicide tolerant cotton.
“Today, more than 80 percent of cotton bales harvested in the U.S. are from varieties with one or more biotechnology traits,” said Roy Baxley, South Carolina state chair of the American Cotton Producers. “While there are clear benefits for farmers in the U.S., farmers in developing countries can also benefit from this technology. For the world's growing population to be fed with nutritious foods and clothed with natural performance fibers, we will depend on biotechnology's ever growing benefits.”
“Our farmers support efforts through modern biotechnology to increase the marketability of agriculture products to address environmental concerns and to increase farm income and yield by decreasing input costs and improving product quality,” said Jon Doggett, vice president of the National Corn Growers Association. “U.S. farmers are adopting biotechnology because they recognize in it the safety, benefits and potential.”
Other advantages of biotech crops include their use in the development of new
medicines, with the potential to treat more than 200 human diseases.
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| Contacts: | Tracy Taylor Grondine (202) 406-3642 tracyg@fb.org |
Marjory Walker National Cotton Council 901-274-9030 mwalker@cotton.org |
