Biotechnology is a potent and valuable tool that can help make foods more productive and nutritious.
Farmers have been genetically modifying crop plants for centuries with more traditional methods of hybridization and selection. The Declaration states that biotechnology, rather than posing any new or greater risks than those more traditional methods used by farmers, provides tools that offer more precise modification. Moreover, biotechnology products are subjected to intensive testing. Foods derived from biotechnology will also offer tremendous direct benefits to the consumers through products such as healthier oils, high protein corn, or hypoallergenic peanuts. Genetically modified plants can also benefit local and regional agriculture in the developing world, the key to addressing both hunger and low income.