Want to Help a Small Farm Prosper? Biotechnology in Agriculture
In 2013 more than 18 million farmers in 27 countries around the globe planted more than 175 million hectares (432 million acres) with scientifically improved seeds that produced high yields of food, feed and fiber. 90% of the those farmers (that’s over 16 Million farmers) who grow biotech crops are resource-poor with farms of less than 10 hectares (a hectare is just under 108,000 square feet or 2.47 acres).1 So a small farmer using modified seeds can increase crop yields as high as 53%.
Biotechnology in agriculture has helped spur a growth in the world economy
Economic benefits of crops modified by biotechnology amounts to an average of over $321/acre. In the last 16 years, planted biotech crop acres have increased 100-fold from 4.2 million acres to 420 million acres. (( source: ISAAA )) Not only has there been a 100-fold increase in the number of modified farming practices, but from that increase there has also been yield gains, in some cases that are 7–20% higher than conventional varieties (which are on average 33% higher than organic yields).2 The growth rate for biotech crops is at least three times as fast and five times as large in developing countries than industrialized countries. So, there 100x more enhanced acres of farming, but they are also increasing their yields by 7-20%.
Biotech Crops are Greener and Cheaper
“GM crops in general need fewer field operations, such as tillage, which more residue to remain in the ground, sequestering more CO 2 in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2011, these practices were equivalent to removing 10.2 million cars from the road for one year.”3 This also means that farmers are spending less money on gas and energy to maintain these crops, further reducing their costs.
At Cansler Consulting we understand that in Washington, D.C. change is the only constant. Advocacy in Washington is also changing and we are at the forefront using new technologies and data to help us focus on strategies that improve our client's return on investment. Our core lobbying strategies are driven by the value at stake from federal legislative & regulatory actions. Leading studies indicate that today's business value impacted by government and regulatory action, or inaction can reach as high as 30 percent of earnings for most companies.
With as much as one-third of earnings at stake, it is imperative that companies, industries and organizations engage in government relations.
If you need effective representation from a bipartisan, entrepreneurial government relations firm contact Cansler Consulting. We are certified by the National Institute of Lobbying and Ethics and have decades of experience assisting clients in issue areas including Agriculture, Budget & Appropriations, Food Safety, Transportation & Infrastructure, International Trade and Energy. Through our relationships established in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S. for over two decades we can help you the legislative and regulatory processes on Capitol Hill and inside federal agencies. You can contact us at
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