10-8 IAN Growers for Biotechnology

 Ag producers from every imaginable sector…we can’t ignore it. Bio-technology is here to stay and you should probably wrap your arms around it. I’m David Sparks and I’ll be right back to explain. Growers for Biotechnology is an educational organization with the following purpose: to promote and facilitate the research, development  and acceptance of agricultural biotechnology. This group was the brainchild of seven farm producers, who determined that a need existed to tell a more complete story surrounding the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture.

Douglas R. Jones, Executive Director is a farmer who also served 20 years in the Idaho House of Representatives, 10 years as chairman of the Agricultural Affairs Committee. Here he is with a message which contradicts the vast majority of organic growers who are very guarded about bio-tech: “Using biotech seed, we use less chemicals less herbicides less pesticides, we reduce tillage, release less carbon to the atmosphere, and we reduce the potential of both wind and water erosion through the use of this technology. As we move from roughly 6 billion people today to 9 billion people by 2050, we’re going to have to use every available technology if we’re going to feed those people.” Mr. Jones says that educating lawmakers and policy makers is one of the primary goals held by his organization.