Frequently Asked Questions On AGRICULTURALBIOTECHNOLOGY

HI..........

What is agricultural biotechnology?
Is biotechnology fundamentally different from other breeding techniques, and does it pose unacceptable risks?
Are crops developed using biotechnology as safe for the environment as crops developed using traditional breeding practices?
Are foods produced using biotechnology as safe to eat as foods produced using traditional breeding practices?
Are the products of agricultural biotechnology regulated?
Do foods produced using biotechnology require special labeling?
Can foods developed using biotechnology cause food allergies?
What are examples of agricultural biotechnology products currently available?
Have farmers adopted new crop varieties developed using biotechnology?
Does biotechnology benefit America's agricultural economy?
Does pest-protected Bt corn harm monarch butterflies?
Has gene flow occurred between Bt corn and landraces in Mexico, and does this threaten natural biodiversity?
What is "terminator" technology?
Can biotechnology play a beneficial role in aquaculture?
Can agriculture biotechnology assist in meeting the food demands of a growing global population?
What is "golden rice" and can it be an effective means to prevent vitamin deficiency?
What are the international trade issues affecting biotechnology food products?
What are the issues regarding intellectual property and agricultural biotechnology?

What is agricultural biotechnology?Agricultural biotechnology is an advanced technology that allows plant breeders to make precise genetic changes to impart beneficial traits to the crop plants we rely on for food and fiber.
For centuries farmers and plant breeders have labored to improve crop plants. Traditional breeding methods include selecting and sowing the seeds from the strongest, most desirable plants to produce the next generation of crops. By selecting and breeding plants with characteristics such as higher yield, resistance to pests and hardiness, early farmers dramatically changed the genetic make-up of crop plants long before the science of genetics was understood. As a result, most of today's crop plants bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors.
The tools of modern biotechnology allow plant breeders to select genes that produce beneficial traits and move them from one organism to another. This process is far more precise and selective than crossbreeding, which involves the transfer of tens of thousands of genes, and provided plant developers with a more detailed knowledge of the changes being made.
The ability to introduce genetic material from other plants and organisms opens up a world of possibilities to benefit food production. As an example, "Bt" crops that are protected against insect damage contain selected genes found in the common soil bacteria, Bacillus thuringiensis. The Bt genes contain information that the plant uses to produce a protein toxic to the larvae of certain plant pests but is safe for humans, animals and other insects. Pest-protected Bt plants stop these insects from eating and destroying the plant, which improves yields and reduces the need for pesticide applications, saving the farmer time and money. Organic farmers use this same Bt to protect their crops from insects.
To learn more about biotechnology techniques, click here.

URS NAGARAJ