Source:  HOUSE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 6/28/11

 

This week during The Ag Minute, guest host, Rep. Timothy V. Johnson discusses how advances in agricultural science and technology will be the key to increasing food production for a growing global population. Biotechnology has proven to be an essential tool in meeting the challenge of increasing our safe and affordable food supply. New biotech crops can continue to help meet the growing demand for food by increasing production on each acre of land while simultaneously reducing inputs, such as fuel and fertilizer, for each bushel of food produced.

The transcript is below.

"With the global population predicted to grow by one-third by 2050, we will need to increase food production by 70 percent to feed everyone.

"We can either meet this demand by utilizing marginal lands with fragile soils and poor water resources, or we can make the smart choice of increasing the production capacity of the plants themselves.  Innovation in agricultural science and technology is the key.

"Recently, the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review the benefits of further developing and utilizing biotech products. We discussed advantages for farmers, the environment, food and energy security, and competition in a global marketplace.

"The hearing revealed that a thorough review of obstacles—both regulatory and legal—will be necessary to fully realize the benefits of biotech, and all regulations must be science-based, predictable, and defensible.

"We will continue to review biotech advances and regulations in the coming weeks so that we can continue America’s progress in increasing food production."

The Ag Minute is Chairman Lucas's weekly radio address that is released from the House Agriculture Committee.