Benefits of Plant Biotechnology

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More foodBetter foodBetter for the environment

Plant biotechnology is about:

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Scientists and government regulators asked the same questions two decades ago that others are asking today.

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Mission:To improve understanding and acceptance of biotechnology by collecting balanced, credible information and communicating this message through a variety of media.

November 2001 survey by Council for Biotechnology Information

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Percentage who support biotechnology to ...

Develop new varieties of crops

Genetically modify foods

Consistently, support for biotechnology is higher among people who have heard more about it.

42%

45%

58%

61%

68%

51%

57%

66%

72%

79%

March 2000 November 2001

Percentage among general public who agrees that each is

true of biotechnology

To grow more food to feed expanding population

For healthier foods

To reduce need for chemical pesticides

For hardier crops to withstand drought, poor soils

For new medicines and health care techniques

+11

+11

+8

+12

+9

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Awareness of plant biotechnology benefits continues to rise.

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March 2000

25%

25%50%

Less safe Not sure As safe or safer

November 2001

23%

25%

52%

Less safe Not sure As safe or safer

One in four doubt the safety of enhanced foods; another one in four are uncertain.

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• What Is Plant Biotechnology

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• The Benefits of Plant Biotechnology

• The Regulatory Framework

Plant Biotechnology

A precise process to improve plants.

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Selective breeding led to higher-yielding varieties.

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Modern cornTeosinte

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Gregor Johann Mendel

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Law of Uniformity

+ =

Law of Segregation

+ =

Desired gene

Traditional plant breedingDNA is a strand of genes, much like a strand of pearls. Traditional plant breeding combines many genes at once.

Traditional donor Commercial variety New variety

Desired Gene

X =(crosses)

(many genes are transferred)

Plant biotechnologyUsing plant biotechnology, a single gene may be added to the strand.

Desired gene Commercial variety New variety

(transfers)

=

Desired gene

(only desired gene is transferred)

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“No conceptual distinction exists between genetic modification of plants and microorganisms by classical methods or by molecular techniques that modify DNA and transfer genes.”

— National Research Council

Benefits of Plant Biotechnology

• More food• Better food• Better for the environment

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More Food

Producing more food more efficiently.

Projected world population

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1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Year

Po

pu

lati

on

(b

illi

on

s)

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Benefits of Plant Biotechnology

• More food• Better food• Better for the environment

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Synthetic insulin the very first biotech product

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“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food.”

— Hippocrates

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Rice enriched with vitamin A

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High-protein corn in Africa, Asia and Latin America

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“Agricultural biotechnology holds great promise for Africa. We don’t want to be denied this technology because of a misguided notion that we don’t understand the dangers of the future consequences.”

— Hassan Adamu, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

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Papaya biotechnology network

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Better Food

Genetically improved oilseeds for healthier cooking oil.

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Healthier vegetables

Benefits of Plant Biotechnology

More foodBetter food

Better for the environment

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Bring environmentally sensitive land under the plow, or increase productivity on existing land?

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Plant biotechnology means less spraying

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Plant biotechnology means more conservation tillage

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Better for the Environment

Mangrove genes transferred to annual crops to promote tolerance to saline soils.

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“A powerful tool for fostering ecofarming as well as for enhancing the productivity of rainfed and saline soils.”

— M.S. Swaminatham 1987 World Food Prize recipient

Government Regulation

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• World Health Organization

• American Dietetic Association

• Institute of Food Technologists

• American Medical Association

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Government regulation

Less trust in food regulatory systems in Europe.

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Benefits of plant biotechnology have been agronomic

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“We have recently advanced our knowledge of genetics to a point where we can manipulate life in a way never intended by nature. We must proceed with the utmost caution in the application of this new found knowledge.”

— Luther Burbank

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“The turning point in agriculture was hybrid wheat.”— Jacob BronowskiThe Ascent of Man

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Plant biotechnology represents the next leap forward

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“If they can give us a better tomato, I’m for it.”

— Julia Child

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“Scientists around the world agree that the new ‘gene-splicing’ technology lowers even further the already minimal risk associated with introducing new plant varieties into the food supply.”

— Professor Henry Miller, Stanford University

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“We are increasingly encouraged that the advantages of genetic engineering of plants and animals are greater than the risks . . . We cannot agree with the position of some groups that say it is against the will of God to meddle with the genetic make-up of plants and animals.”

— Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life

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“The more people know, the more they support biotechnology.”

— Council for Biotechnology Information Research

For more information:

Council for Biotechnology Information– www.whybiotech.com

U.S. Department of Agriculture– www.aphis.usda.gov/biotechnology/laws.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency– www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides

U.S. Food and Drug Administration– www.cfsan.fda.gov

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More food

Plant biotechnology is about:

Better foodBetter for the environment

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Council for Biotechnology Information1225 Eye Street N.W., Suite 400

Washington, DC 20005-5958

Phone – (202)467-6565

www.whybiotech.com