Posted 28 June 2000. We want that to change. Novartis Crop Protection stands firmly behind plant biotechnology and encourages others to join the campaign. Soon, agricultural biotechnology will yield consumer benefits like improved nutrition and more flavorful, higher-quality fruits and vegetables. Already, scientists have developed a strain of golden rice enhanced with beta-carotene and iron that could improve the health of billions of people in developing countries.
Biotechnology also has the potential to remove allergens from foods like peanuts, soy and wheat.
Higher yields have also prevented soil erosion by requiring less farmland. Biotechnology will help triple the farm output needed by the year 2050 to keep up with the growing world population. The ability to grow crops in adverse conditions has staggering potential in areas like the tropics. For instance, genetic researchers have found a way to overcome the aluminum toxicity that cuts crop yields by as much as 80 percent in acidic tropical soil. Biotechnology has the potential to render crops virtually free from insects, disease and bacteria.