Biotechnology benefits farmers and consumers worldwide, and innovation in plant science is essential to meet the world’s rapidly growing demand for food, said Dr. Howard Minigh, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of CropLife International, when he presented to the nearly 500 attendees of Export Exchange 2014 on Oct. 22.

Minigh addressed the crowd of international buyers and domestic traders gathered in Seattle, Washington, for the biennial conference meant to help the two constituencies build relationships to facilitate grain trade in the coming years. 

The Benefits of Biotechnology

Since being commercially introduced in the mid-1990s, the economic benefits of plant biotechnology at the farm level have exceeded $117 billion, according to PG Economics. In 2013, 18 million farmers in 27 countries – more than 90 percent of them lower-income farmers in the developing world – planted biotech crops.

Despite the widespread adoption of this technology, its sometimes unpredictable regulatory framework driven by political forces rather than science have created notable challenges to global trade. The timelines for approval in several large importing countries are lengethening. The trend also affects the United States, the world’s leading exporter.  As recently as 2008, the U.S.  was a global leader in biotech approvals, now it trails Canada, Brazil and Argentina on this measure.

Feeding the World

“The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that the world needs to increase food production 70 percent by 2050, which means we must grow more with less,” said Ron Gray, USGC chairman. “To meet this demand, we need better technology of all types, and we also must continue to embrace trade as a path to food security. These are critical topics to discuss at meetings like Export Exchange.”

The Council recognizes that food security is a priority for every nation and believes international trade is a powerful tool for enhancing the food security of all peoples. It is imperative that countries broaden their concept of food secuirty beyond self-sufficiency in order to take advantage of the safety net trade ensures and to meet the demand  from the growing middle class for higher quality food options.