CropLife Asia & Regional Plant Science Industry Celebrate Earth Day
21 Aprile 2017 - 3:00AM
JCN Newswire (English)
SINGAPORE, Apr 21, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - Nearly 400,000 plant
species provide our planet with the nutritious food, fiber, fresh
air, and medicine we need to survive, but it is estimated that
roughly one-fifth of those are at risk of extinction due to
environmental threats. On this 47th anniversary of Earth Day,
CropLife Asia and the region's plant science industry have joined
together to celebrate the agricultural innovations that have
improved the productivity, health and quality of crops while
reducing agriculture's environmental impact.
"Around Asia and the world, the plant science industry is working
tirelessly to research and develop the next generation of crop
protection and plant biotech tools and technologies that will help
farmers grow healthier, more sustainable crops to feed a growing
population," said Dr. Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife
Asia. "Farming is one of the greatest users of the earth's natural
resources, which is why our industry continues working to provide
the tools that will help farmers grow more with less and train them
on environmentally friendly best practices."
In celebrating Earth Day, below are five facts about how advances
in plant science are reducing agriculture's environmental impact
and protecting our planet and its precious resources.
Fact #1: Plant biotechnology allows farmers to grow more food on
less land. Since biotech crops were first commercially planted in
1996, farmers have saved over 132 million hectares of land from
cultivation and increased crop yields by 22 percent. This means
preserving more wildlands and natural habitats for animals.
Fact #2: Crop protection products reduce food waste and protect
biodiversity. Food crops compete with 30,000 species of weeds,
3,000 species of nematodes and 10,000 species of plant-eating
insects, which have the potential to destroy up to 40 percent of
the world's food production each year. Crop protection products
help farmers fight off these pests while protecting their crops,
reducing food loss.
Fact #3: Plant science is helping rebuild the world's soil supply.
Roughly 50,000 square kilometers of soil are lost annually due to
erosion, and drought and poor weather conditions continue to
degrade soil even further. Modern farming techniques, such as
no-till, and technologies, such as biotech crops, are preserving
the soil's nutrients and moisture, which provides farmers with
better quality soil to grow crops.
Fact #4: Innovations in plant biotechnology are reducing
agriculture's carbon footprint. Biotech crops enable agricultural
practices such as reduced tillage, which allow farmers to reduce
their greenhouse gas emissions by burning less fuel and retaining
carbon in the soil. Since biotech crops were first planted over 20
years ago, farmers have reduced carbon emissions by 28 billion
kilograms, or roughly the equivalent of taking all of London's cars
off the street for five years.
Fact #5: New developments in plant science aid in global water
conservation. Agriculture uses 70 percent of all fresh water to
grow crops, but innovative water-efficient biotech crops are
helping farmers use this resource more efficiently. For example,
one hectare of corn now uses 450,000 liters less water than it did
to grow 20 years ago.
About CropLife Asia
CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization
of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science
industry. We advocate a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is
food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia
supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent
and is led by eight member companies at the forefront of crop
protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development.
For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.
Source: CropLife Asia
Contact:
Duke Hipp
Director, Public Affairs
CropLife Asia
Tel: +65 6221 1615
duke.hipp@croplifeasia.org
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