Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) says agricultural biotechnology "retains a huge potential for public good" and should be promoted and developed or the options will be far less palatable as the world tries to feed an ever-expanding population.

Speaking at an agricultural biotechnology briefing, Lugar said biotech "should be nourished with adequate investments in publicly financed research and corresponding efforts to raise public understanding of the issues involved."

Scientists have told his committee that research promises, among other things, to increase the vitamin content of crops such as rice and corn to help prevent blindness and other diseases among malnourished children. Another benefit, he added, is that last year, cotton farmers avoided using 84,000 gallons of insecticides by switching to biotech varieties.

There also are negative environmental implications of not developing agricultural biotechnology, he said. As the world population increases 50% by 2050, he explained, more food will be required to support the growing population and improve standards of living.

"If agricultural efficiency remains static, then more land will be needed to grow more food. Faced with the choice of starvation or cutting down forests, mankind will have few options," he said. Biotechnology is the alternative that can "increase agricultural efficiency, reduce use of chemical pesticides and improve food's nutritional value."

Most Americans "know little of commercial agriculture, pesticide use, food processing or distribution," he added. Research is dominated by private sector investment and corporations have chosen "to first introduce technologies having a production advantage rather than advertising improved food value or quality directly to consumers."