|
Biotech drives new products, techniquesBy Randy Buhler CSU Cooperative Extension, Logan County Agent, Agronomy Colorado A seed company representative recently commented that when he started in the business his company had 12 hybrids. Now he has over 300 to market. This example illustrates the complexity and opportunity of modern farming techniques and products a farm manager must consider for his cropping operation. Biotechnology is the driving force behind the development of these new products and techniques. Putting insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, yield enhancements, and other genetic traits into our crops is proving advantageous to farmers that use them. The ISAAA released Brief 35, titled Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2006, recently. The ISAAA is a non-profit charity facilitating the adoption of crop biotechnology applications to relieve poverty particularly in countries with resource poor farmers. They maintain a website at www.isaaa.org. In 2006, there were 252 million acres planted to biotech crops by 10.3 million farmers in 22 countries. This was the eleventh year of commercialization of biotech crops. In 2005, there were 222 million acres planted by 8.5 million farmers in 21 countries. The unprecedented rate of adoption of biotech crops testifies to the perceived value farmers place on the production results. The trust and confidence of governments licensing and adopting these technologies for the benefit of their farmers brings additional countries into the biotechnology era. The brief noted that in 2006 over half (3.6 billion) of the global population of 6.5 billion live in the 22 countries that have officially adopted biotech crops. More than half (1.92 billion) of the 3.7 billion arable acres in the world are in these 22 countries. The 22 countries are USA, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, China, Paraguay, South Africa, Uruguay, Philippines, Australia, Romania, Mexico, Spain, Colombia, France, Iran, Honduras, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, and Slovakia. Slovakia joined the group in 2006. The United States leads the world in adoption of biotech crops. During 2006, there were 11.86 million acres planted to biotech crops. India ranked second in total area planted, followed by Brazil, Argentina, and South Africa. The dominant trait in soybean, corn, canola, cotton, and alfalfa was herbicide tolerance. Globally, the herbicide resistance trait occupied 68 percent of biotech crop acreage. The Bt insect resistance trait covered 19 percent of acreage and stacked traits covered 13 percent. The fastest growing segment from 2005 to 2006 was the stacked traits versions of biotech crops. Biotechnology has made an unprecedented rate of change in crop varieties grown. Biotech is now responsible for most of the development effort to develop crops for food, feed, fiber, and fuel. Fuel will likely become the more significant use of biotechnology to increase the efficiency of biofuel production. Our local sugar beet farmers look forward to Roundup Ready sugar beet varieties to improve weed control. The USDA has developed a virus resistant papaya. India is developing rice and cotton varieties to reduce pesticide inputs. The Philippines are using biotech to improve Manila hemp fiber production. Brazil plans biotech projects to develop more efficient sugarcane varieties for ethanol production. Thailand is developing higher yielding coconuts. Biotechnology has its Achilles heal. Insect resistance and herbicide resistant weeds can readily appear and become dominant when a single technology is used repeatedly on a field. Good stewardship by observing refuge planting and rotating herbicide families will make the difference between an estimated 10-year life cycle and a 50-year life cycle for these new biotech crops. The careful adoption of biotechnology and faithful observance of stewardship principles can offer an exciting future for farming. B 7 3/12/07 3 Star CO Date: 3/7/07
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2008. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
| ||||||||||||||||||||
