Biotech & World Hunger

In the spirit of keeping an open mind and truly reflecting on an issue, here
is another viewpoint on biotechnology!

Any feedback would be appreciated!

TomK
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>From: "MI07, Inside Congress"
>Subject: Inside Congress - Week of February 3, 2002
>Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 10:35:40 -0500
>
>INSIDE CONGRESS
>News and Views from U.S. Representative Nick Smith
>Column For the Week of February 3, 2002
>
>Biotech and World Hunger
>
> Today, about 800 million people lack sufficient food. In third world
>countries malnutrition, especially among children, is common. Yet, we
>expect
>two billion more people in the world by 2030, most of them living in
>developing countries. Poor soils, pests, drought, distribution and storage
>are all obstacles to feeding these people. Agricultural biotechnology,
>however, can help.
>
> Biotechnology research sponsored by the federal government,
>universities, industry, and international organizations is making great
>strides. I have been working to encourage biotechnology research that bears
>directly on agricultural production both here and abroad. For example, new
>food crops with more vitamins and nutrition are possible. Biotechnology has
>already developed products like "Golden Rice" enriched with beta carotene
>and iron, and mustard that will combat vitamin-A deficiency. Scientists are
>even working on foods that will help prevent or cure debilitating diseases,
>such as cholera and diarrhea, leading causes of infant mortality in
>developing countries.
>
> Researchers are designing plants that resist pests. For example, a new
>virus-resistant sweet potato is being introduced in Africa. Biotechnology
>also has been used to "immunize" papaya plants against papaya ringspot,
>which had devastated production in Hawaii. This technique is now being
>applied to protect papaya and gourd crops throughout Southeast Asia, India,
>the South Pacific, and Australia.
>
> Biotechnology already is beginning to improve lives in developing
>countries. This past October, Themetshe Buthelezi, a farmer from Makhatini
>Flats in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, visited Washington to tell
>us about his experience with biotech crops. When told of biotech cotton
>that
>resisted bollworms, Mr. Buthelezi, the head of the local farming group, was
>initially skeptical. Nevertheless, he took a chance and planted the biotech
>cotton on his farm. In the first season, a drought year, Mr. Buthelezi
>brought in much better crop than any of his neighbors.
>
> Since then, he has doubled the size of his farm. Now, about 90 percent
>of his neighbors also grow biotech cotton. Production has skyrocketed and
>raising the standard of living in Makhatini Flats dramatically. Recent data
>show that the worldwide acreage of biotech crops increased by 11 percent
>from 1999 to 2000. Eighty-five percent of that increase was due to the
>adoption of biotech crops by farmers in developing nations.
>
> In my published report, "The Seeds of Opportunity", I show that this
>is
>just the beginning. Biotechnology will be seen increasingly as a leading
>weapon in the battle against hunger. Last December, the Subcommittee on
>Research, which I Chair, approved my bill to bolster research on plant
>genomics, including its application in the developing world. Research
>centers and scientific partnerships will improve our capability to produce
>new, more productive and nutritious crops. As the second session of
>Congress
>begins, I look forward to moving this bill to the House floor.
>
> Technological innovation, especially in biotechnology, is changing the
>world we live in. As the leader in plant genomics and biotechnology, the
>United States can use our expertise to help find solutions to increased
>food
>security and economic growth in our country and abroad.
>
>To read Congressman Nick Smith's, "Seeds of Opportunity" report, please
>visit his website at: http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/opportunity.pdf
><http://www.house.gov/nicksmith/opportunity.pdf>
>
> _____
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