www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

About one billion people ? or one-sixth of the world?s population ? live in
extreme poverty or on less than $1 per day. For these individuals, losing a
crop to a drought or a crop-destroying insect invasion can be the difference
between life and death.
Farming innovations such as genetically modified crops can contribute to
poverty alleviation by increasing yields, improving nutrition and generating
income among resource-poor farmers.

?What we see is that with very practical approaches ? not only will the
quality of life for the poorest of the poor be raised tremendously, not only
will millions of people who otherwise will die be able to stay alive, but
also, they will begin the process of economic development. [These
investments will unlock the poverty trap and allow them to start moving
forward,? says Jeffrey D. Sachs a leading international economic advisor,
who for more than 20 years has been involved in identifying challenges to
and solutions for ending poverty.

?There?s now promise in the case of many of the biotechnologies in
agriculture of fortifying nutrients in places where the people are facing
massive nutrient deficiencies ? of course, traits that protect against local
pests and pathogens,? continues Sachs in an exclusive video interview and
podcast available at the Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web site:
[www.monsanto.com]. ?Now there?s the possibility of
drought-resistant varieties. ? This would be a phenomenal breakthrough,
especially for Africa, which is nearly a whole continent afflicted with the
massive risk and reality of drought.?

As director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and of the United
Nations Millennium Project, Sachs promotes policies that expand economic
opportunities and well being throughout the world. Genetically modified
crops hold great promise for subsistence farming because the technology is
delivered in the seed. For example, there are genetically modified corn
hybrids that produce a protein that protects the plant from specific insect
pests ? eliminating the danger of crop loss due to insect infestations.
Research is currently underway to develop plants that can survive drought
conditions.

?You have a lot of African scientists who are right now saying, ?This really
fits our need. This technology is so powerful because it brings in one
little seed everything that's needed. The seed?s a great delivery,??
comments Sachs. ?The great news is those technologies exist. ? Getting those
technologies to the poorest farmers is absolutely one of the keys to making
the breakthrough out of extreme poverty.?

In addition to Sachs? video, visitors to the Conversations about Plant
Biotechnology Web site can access comments from other renowned thought
leaders including Nobel Peace Prize recipient and leader of the Green
Revolution Dr. Norman Borlaug, as well as Chairman of the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Dr. Clive
James. The personal experiences of farmers who grow genetically modfied
crops are also available ? including conversations with subsistence farmers
from India, the Philippines, Burkina Faso and South Africa.

Conversations about Plant Biotechnology is designed to give a voice and a
face to the farmers and families who grow biotech crops and the experts who
research and study the technology. The Web site contains more than 40 two-
to three-minute, extremely candid, straightforward and compelling video
segments with the people who know the technology best. The Web site is
hosted by Monsanto Company ? a leading global provider of technology-based
solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food
quality.

[www.prweb.com]