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American Soybean Association

Farmer Leaders Recognize Planting of One-Billionth Biotech Acre

Chicago (ots/PRNewswire)

Farmer leaders from the American
Soybean Association (ASA), the National Corn Growers Association
(NCGA) and the National Cotton Council (NCC) met in Chicago today to
recognize the planting of the one-billionth acre of biotech-enhanced
agricultural commodities. Representatives from Truth About Trade and
Technology (TATT) were also on hand to talk about an acreage counter
that is being used to track the planting of biotech acres around the
world.
"U.S. farmers are adopting biotechnology because they recognize
the safety, benefits and potential of biotechnology," said Darrin
Ihnen, a South Dakota farmer who serves as Chairman of NCGA's
Biotechnology Working Group. "As a farmer, it's important that I find
ways to become more efficient in my operation. Biotechnology helps
reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides I use."
Biotechnology also results in less soil erosion, less fuel
emissions and less herbicide carryover, which provides for healthier
groundwater, rivers and streams.
"The one billionth acre of biotech crops has been planted and I'm
thrilled that we are acknowledging this milestone," states Dean
Kleckner, an Iowa farmer and Chairman of TATT. "The astonishing speed
with which farmers from around the world have adopted this technology
is significant."
Given the world's growing population, the United Nations
Population Fund reports that farmers will have to produce about 75
percent more food per acre by 2020 to meet anticipated demand.
"Farmers are both producers and consumers of the food and fiber
that comes from our farms," said Neal Bredehoeft, a Missouri farmer
who serves as ASA President. "This dual position helps us recognize
that biotechnology is another in a long line of advancements that
have helped make our supply of food and fiber the safest and
healthiest in the world."
Globally, 6 percent of canola, 11 percent of cotton, 23 percent of
corn and 60 percent of soybeans are grown from biotech-enhanced
seedstock.
"I'm looking forward to the next generation of biotech products'
traits to enhance fiber quality, improve food safety, impart stress
tolerance to plants and allow plants to grow in saline soils," said
Craig Shook, a Texas cotton producer who serves as NCC
Secretary-Treasurer.
Web site: http://www.soygrowers.org

Contact:

Bob Callanan, ASA Communications Director, +1-314-576-1770,
bcallanan@soy.org , Mimi Ricketts, NCGA Communications Director,
+1-636-733-9004, ricketts@ncga.com , or Marjory Walker, NCC Director,
Communication, Production and Audio Visual Services, +1-901-274-9030,
mwalker@cotton.org