Plant biotechnology is a powerful tool that helps farmers provide food, feed, fibre, and fuel to a growing global population, all while reducing agriculture’s footprint on the environment. The technology helps farmers grow more food per acre, preserving forests and other wildlife habitats from encroachment – the biggest threat to biodiversity. If biotech traits had not been available in 2007, to produce the same amount, farmers would have had to plant almost 6 million more hectares of soybeans and 3 million hectares of corn.

Herbicide-tolerant crops facilitate the use of no-till agriculture, which helps prevent wind and water erosion and loss of soil moisture, increases soil biodiversity and fertility, and reduces carbon emissions.  At the same time, soil organic matter is maximised, which reduces agriculture’s contribution to global emissions of greenhouse gases linked to climate change.  Pest-resistant crops also allow for fewer applications of crop protection products, saving fuel use and time for farmers.

Biotech crops are stringently tested and regulated for environmental safety. Many well-respected scientific bodies and regulatory agencies such as the FAO, WHO and OECD have declared their confidence in the environmental safety of biotech crops. The plant science industry makes the responsible introduction and commercialization of new plant biotech products their first priority.