HOW LONG HAS BIOTECHNOLOGY BEEN USED IN AGRICULTURE AND FOOD PRODUCTION?
The first food product of biotechnology (an enzyme used in cheese production and a yeast used for baking) appeared on the market in 1990. Since 1995, farmers have been growing GE crops. In 2003, 7 million farmers in 18 countries — more than 85 percent of them resource-poor farmers in the developing world — were planting biotech crops. Almost one third of the global biotech crop area was grown in developing countries. WILL AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY HAVE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACTS? A safe and sufficient food supply, grown in an environmentally responsible fashion is essential for humanity. Like any technology, agricultural biotechnology will have economic and social impacts. Since their introduction, crops improved using biotechnology have been used safely, with benefits such as the reduction of pesticide use. Agricultural biotechnology is only one factor among many influencing the health and welfare of farmers and other citizens in the developing world. As biotechnology continues to
