Plants can also be altered to mature faster, last longer and have greater nutritional quality. The area planted with transgenic crops more than doubled last year. The United States accounts for three-fourths of the total. Some of the early successes of biotechnology center on crop protection, and have markedly improved plant resistance to pests. Less pesticide use is a plus not only for farm income but also for the environment.
Research is also under way to improve the nutritional impact of key food crops.
Swiss scientists have developed genetically modified rice with higher levels of vitamin A and iron. Rice is the staple for about 2.4 billion people. To capture such benefits we must squarely face the profound ethical and safety issues of biotechnology. These are complicated by the issues of proprietary science. Protests have been staged by farmers and citizens' groups in a number of countries on ethical or ecological grounds.