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.
These attributes are real. They're our future. And they're all brought to you by plant biotechnology. It's unfortunate that misinformation spread by a few activist groups may delay the acceptance of a technology that has the potential to enhance nutrition, reduce starvation and help sustain the environment around the globe. Despite perceived consumer trends and the recent decision by sister company Gerber to reduce genetically enhanced ingredients in its baby food, Novartis Crop Protection is committed to plant biotechnology, to the safe introduction of genetically enhanced products into the market, and to the farmers we serve.