It was great to see the Wilmington News Journal engage in a discussion about biotechnology and global food production in the article, "GMOs:
10 simple questions (and some surprising answers)." While food ingredients from biotech crops have been on our nation's grocery shelves since the mid-'90s, we at DuPont understand consumers may still have questions and welcome the chance to be a part of that dialogue.
Biotech crops are perhaps the most stringently regulated aspect of agriculture -- held to the highest level of analysis and scrutiny. They are regulated by three federal agencies -- the USDA, the FDA and the EPA. The National Academies of Science, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the American Dietetic Association and the American Medical Association all agree that biotech foods are as safe as foods grown with conventionally bred seeds.
The fact, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, that more than 15 million farmers in 29 countries grow biotech crops is a strong testament to the value that the technology brings to farmers.
Biotechnology is helping them produce more with less and improve the overall quantity and quality of the food available to feed a hungry planet.
Yet, with all that biotechnology has to offer, it is just one of many tools we at the DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred use to develop the high-yielding seeds to meet local growing conditions and market needs in the more than 90 countries where we do business.
Improved conventional hybrids and better crop management practices have tremendous potential to increase yields across the globe.
As I have met with farmers and others around the world working to improve access to food, it is readily apparent that the tools farmers need to feed the 7 billion people on our planet today goes well beyond seed. They need information on best practices. They need credit and crop insurance. They need adequate roads and access to viable markets. They need holistic, sustainable local solutions.
Enabling farmers to meet the challenge of feeding the 9 billion people expected by 2050 will require all of us -- scientists, farmers, philanthropists, businesses, governments and NGOs -- to work together to find local solutions to the global issues we face. The future requires more innovation and collaboration than ever before.
Yes, we should discuss biotechnology and where it can most effectively and appropriately be applied. We also should discuss how we can increase public and private R&D investments, connect critical resources, create global policies, and ensure immediate food aid to the most in need.
The complexity of the issue is compounded by the number of people desperate for a solution.
I'm optimistic about what we will be able to achieve together.
Whether they are in Ethiopia, Indonesia, Brazil or Delaware, farmers take great pride in their role of feeding the world. And it's very rewarding to witness the tools and systems coming together that allow them to succeed.
Copyright © 2011 delawareonline.
