So our ability to market goods developed with biotechnology is more than just an economic issue. It's a humanitarian issue. It is one of our best defenses against deforestation, land erosion, and water depletion that can destabilize entire populations. And it is critical to the livelihood of U.S. producers. America's farmers and ranchers now find their income tied more directly than in recent memory to the market.
Biotechnology can be one of the most important tools to maximize market returns.
For example, a corporate developer of Bt corn, report average yield increases across the United States for Bt corn of 11 percent, with yield gains of up to 25 percent in areas of heavy infestation by the European corn borer. Roundup Ready soybeans reportedly increased yields and allowed many farmers to reduce herbicide use and avoid herbicides that are more toxic and don't break down in the soil as quickly as Roundup. These developments contribute directly to the bottom line of producers. Producers are already seeing the benefits from what is just the first generation of biotech products, so it is not surprising that plantings of genetically modified crops have increased. A significant percentage of U.S. cotton area was planted to genetically modified varieties last year.