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Ag Biotech: An Environmental Success Story

Farmers have adopted biotechnology since 1996 because biotech crops grow healthier plants that yield more per acre with reduced production costs. But planting biotech crops also helps to enhance soil, air and water quality. Biotech allows us to meet the food production demands of a growing population in an economical way while lessening environmental impact. 

Low or no-till agriculture, in limited use prior to 1996, has enabled farmers to shift to simpler, more effective agronomic practices leading to improved soil health and water retention, reduced pesticide runoff, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. New developments help American farmers produce crops that use water more effi-ciently. Biotech-derived crops also allow for higher productivity on land currently under cultivation, preventing the conversion of tropical forests and land used for other, non-agricultural purposes to farmland.

To learn more about how biotech is making farming earth-friendly, download BIO's 2012 Earth Day fact sheet.