In fact, biotechnology helps reduce the undesirable qualities in foods like saturated fats in cooking oils, increases nutrients that reduce the risk of chronic disease, and delivers better nutrients such as vitamin A in commonly consumed crops. In addition, with the world's population predicted to nearly double by the year 2030 when it reaches 10 billion people, the demand for food will increase. Biotechnology has the enormous potential to improve the quality of life here in the United States and around the world. Biotechnology helps our farmers increase their crop yields and allows better use of their valuable farm acres. In the end, the efficient use of our natural resources and farmers' use of best management practices have enabled the nation to produce higher yields of better quality crops, and sustain and protect the environment.
Biotechnology also stands to improve human health.
Today, one-third of all new medicines in development are based on biotechnology. Tomorrow's medicines will attack the underlying cause of an illness, not just its symptoms, and will give us the tremendous potential to cure diseases and ailments all over the world. In addition to biotechnology's agricultural and health benefits, the industry will improve lives by creating small businesses, generating new jobs, and encouraging agricultural and industrial information. And our farmers, who are already very efficient and cost- effective, will have another tool to help them survive in today's competitive marketplace. Biotechnology is a crucial part of any efforts to expand agricultural productivity in the 21st century.