Plant Biotechnology

It's slipped under the radar without much fan fair but interestingly environmentalists and activist are beginning to embrace, even champion the advances in plant biotechnology. I was always perplexed that groups staunchly opposed to pesticides and chemical use focused on fears of frankenfruit, rather than the inherent implication of reducing huge quantities of pesticides through plants genetically engineered to be more resistant to pests. Than there is the humanitarian aspect to biotechnology, the ability to grow abundantly more food per acre and even grow indigenous plants filled with vaccines or vitamins to fight diseases that are killing children through the world. The veil was lifted for Bill and Melinda Gates who support biotechnology from a medical perspective. Then Jimmy Carter followed from an agricultural one. Now notably pro-environmental groups like the Environmental News Network recently ran a headline that reads beyond food and drugs biotech fight pollution talking about he use of GMO cottonwoods to clean soil.