What is Biotechnology? Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

People have made genetic improvements to plants since the days of the ancient Egyptians. As far back as 8,000 years ago, Native Americans in Mexico domesticated teosinte, an ancestor of modern corn. As a result, today's corn yields more than 1,000 times greater than an acre of teosinte.

America's families enjoy a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, meats and dairy products in their grocery stores and farmers' markets because those products have been genetically improved by traditional means for thousands of years.

With advances of agricultural technology, today's farmer is far more effective in meeting the expectations of modern consumers. Better yet, agricultural advancements have improved the quality of many foods American consumers have been enjoying for more than 20 years.

Agricultural biotechnology is just one of these advancements, but it is playing an important role in the sustainability and efficiency of today's farming operations. Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of techniques, including genetic engineering, to improve plants and to enhance the environment on farms. Through genetic engineering, scientists are able to cut and paste desirable genes from one molecule of DNA to another. This precise technology allows for the transfer of specific, desirable genes, unlike traditional crossbreeding, which transfers a whole host of genes, including unwanted ones.

Since the scientific journal Nature published the first document describing the structure of DNA in 1953, scientists have been working to use this knowledge to benefit the planet's environment and people.

Genetic engineering is now so widely accepted around the world that in 2005 more than 1 billion acres of biotech crops will be grown, equal to more than 40 percent of America's total land mass.

Moreover, more than 8 million farmers worldwide have embraced this technology because it is based on sound science, good health, environmental benefits and great promise for future generations of consumers in the United States, other developed countries and developing nations.

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