08/30/06 Biotech Numbers

Despite the reports about GMO rice and turf grass jumping ship and intermingling where they shouldn't the outlook for Biotech crops is actually quite rosy. 1.3 million acres worldwide and 21 countries now grow biotech crops. This equates to a 30 percent increase in just one year. It is predicted that over the next four years 30 countries will be aboard the GMO band wagon and raise the total number of acres to 371 million. In the US alone we have experienced nearly a ten percent increase this year with many agronomists' attributing the surge to the fact that biotech corn, soybean and canola is simpler for farmers to farm because the crops require less pesticide. Round-up ready crops coupled with freedom from ecological concerns like pesticide in water systems make biotech crops extremely appealing. While the US is the leading producer of GMO crops when combined with pro-biotech countries like Argentina, Canada and Brazil we make up 90 percent of the worlds acreage.