Global Issues Press Conference Should farmers be concerned with agricultural biotechnology? By: Peter Campbell

What is Agricultural Biotechnology? An advanced technology that allows plant breeders to make precise genetic changes to add beneficial traits to the crops we rely on for food The tools of modern biotechnology allow plant breeders to select genes that produce beneficial traits and move them from one organism to another.

How long has genetic engineering been used in agriculture and food production? The first food products of biotechnology - an enzyme used in cheese production and a yeast used for baking appeared on the market in In 2001, an estimated 5.5 million farmers grew biotech crops on 130 million acres in about 15 countries, led by the U.S., Canada and Argentina.

Why is it being used in our food Supply? Virtually all of the biotech crops on the market today were developed to reduce crop damage by weeds, diseases and insects Genetic modification improves yields and reduces the need for pesticide applications, saving the farmer time and money.

ISSUES Biotechnology vs. traditional breeding methods

Potential benefits Safer food supply for consumers Less impact on the environment Less expensive food production Crops less vulnerable to insects, diseases and weeds Crops with higher/greater nutritional content Crops developed as production vehicles for medicines and vaccines to prevent disease

Potential Risks Farmworker and consumer safety Environmental effects on plants, animals and water systems Genes moving from genetically engineered crops into wild plants Pests eventually developing resistance to pest-resistant crops Introduction of allergy-causing compounds into foods

Agricultural Biotechnology and Farm Economics