Despite heavy spring rains and flooding that delayed the growing season in
the United States, USDA is estimating increased production of corn and
soybeans this year. This is due in part to the contribution of agricultural
biotechnology which has helped improve farm yields since it was introduced
in the U.S. in 1995.

This year?s corn crop is on target to be the second largest ever, behind
only last year's record haul. The U.S. soybean crop is expected to be the
fourth largest ever.

Reacting to concerns regarding crop shortages that sparked unrest in some
countries and high prices for food in markets around the globe, many nations
this year began to acknowledge the benefits that biotechnology offers
agriculture.

In July, the United Kingdom?s former chief scientific adviser, Sir David
King, stated, ?There is only one technology likely to deliver the yield
increases needed and that is agricultural biotechnology."

In October, Italy's Welfare and Health Minister, Maurizio Sacconi, called on
the country to lift a ban on growing genetically modified crops.

Many sub-Saharan countries in Africa, where 30 percent of the population is
under-nourished, are considering embracing agricultural biotechnology in an
effort to address the need for increased yields and limited access to a
reliable supply of water.

South African scientists have approved trials of genetically-enhanced
sorghum to improve the digestibility and nutritional content of the coarse
grain which thrives in arid soils.

Several studies this year demonstrated increased support by consumers for
food grown using biotechnology. An Asian Food Information Centre survey
found that in light of the region's growing demand for high volumes of
quality food, consumers in China, India, Japan, the Philippines, and South
Korea are ready to accept foods produced using agricultural biotechnology.

Biotech crops are also gaining acceptance in Europe, according to a study
issued by EuropaBio.

The year was also one of advances in the development of new crop varieties
using biotechnology. In June, researchers said agricultural biotechnology
will play a key role in increasing corn and soybean yields by 40 percent
over the next decade while overcoming climate challenges including
crop-killing droughts.

In Asia, researchers announced that genetically modified golden rice, which
is meant to improve nutrition in the developing world, may be available to
farmers by 2011.

Biotechnology is one of the greatest income-neutral technologies available
to wealthy and poor farmers alike, requiring no significant additional
investment in new tools or technology, yet increasing yields and reducing
crops lost to pests and disease.

According to a report released this year, half of the 23 countries growing
agricultural biotechnology crops are less developed countries. Eleven of the
12 million farmers growing biotech crops are small-holder, resource poor
farmers.

Agricultural biotechnology is also being recognized for its environmental
benefits. Herbicide-tolerant crops contribute significantly to soil
conservation because more farmers employ no-till which reduces erosion.

In China, farmers growing biotech rice reduced pesticide use by nearly 80
percent and more than half of them used no pesticides. More than 10 percent
of farmers growing conventional rice showed symptoms of pesticide poisoning,
while none of the farmers growing pest resistant rice did.
www.checkbiotech.org