Benefits of Biotechnology/**/

Crops improved through agricultural biotechnology have been grown commercially on a commodity scale for over 12 years. These crops have been adopted worldwide at rates exceeding any other advances in the history of agriculture.

The United Soybean Board developed a compendium in 2009, titled "The Benefits of Biotechnology: Scientific Assessments of Agricultural Biotechnology's Role in a Safer, Healthier World."

Examining available research, the scientific assessment demonstrates that biotechnology has the power to increase human health, environmental sustainability and the well-being of consumers and farm communities globally.

These findings include:

• Higher yielding crops developed through agricultural biotechnology can contribute toward meeting the United Nation's estimated need for a 50 percent increase in world food production by 2030.
• More nutritious crops developed through agricultural biotechnology can help consumers meet specific nutrient needs such as increasing omega-3 fatty acid consumption or reducing saturated fat consumption.
• These improved crops have been declared safe repeatedly by the world's top scientific and regulatory bodies, so consumers can feel safe eating foods with biotech-derived ingredients.
• Farmers can contribute to sustainable farm communities by earning higher incomes for biotech-derived crops.
• Better soil health, improved water retention/decreased soil erosion and decreased herbicide runoff are resulting from the use of biotechnology.
• Agricultural biotechnology is decreasing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from farming.

The full report is available in 13 languages. You may download high- and low-resolution formats. Please select from the following.