Biotechnology

ooGOOD Morning to friends and farmers, I hope you had a good week. Did you hear the story about a miner who struck gold and carried his and of nuggets with him. One day he died and went to heaven, still carrying his precious nuggets, when he arrived, an angel asked him why he was carrying asphalt. “This isn't asphalt”, The miner replied, “This is gold”. To which the angel replied.” On earth its called gold but here in heaven we use it to pave our streets”. I agree, this is just a funny story, but it prompts us to think about what we consider valuable-and what is truly valuable to God. The things we prize here on earth will not be so highly valuable in heaven. The unnecessary things we buy and collect are worth nothing. When the time comes to id earth goodbye, what value will they have, think about it.

Lets pause for prayer, Nor silver nor gold hatch obtained my redemption, the way into heaven could not thus be bought, the blood of the cross is my only foundation the death of my savior redemption hatch wrought. Those who lay up treasures in heaven are the richest people on earth.

Our topic: My research shows me the farmers raise biotech crops. Since seeds for biotech corn and soyabean were first sold to farmers worldwide, The trend has been to plant increasing acreage. More than half of the soyabeans and more than one-third of the corn planted in the years 2000 to 2005 were biotech crops if not more.

Consumers have reaped the benefits of biotech crops in the form of higher quality products in the future, consumers will see expanding benefits of biotech crops as the use and sophistication of biotechnology's grow. For example a corn (maize) called BT corn has been bred to be protected against a common pest called the European corn borer. This results in less damage to the corn plant which in turn, reduces the infection by a fungus that produces a mycotoxin called fumonism. BT corn varieties therefore contain less fomunism. This fumonism has been shown to be a carcinogen (an agent causing cancer) in humans, so risk of human exposure to fumonism from corn-based products is being reduced thanks to biotechnology.

There will be many biotech crops with enhanced level of nutrients or other beneficial substances in the plant. For example, “golden rice” is being developed with increased levels of vitamin A and iron. Golden rice could be a significant addition to the diet and health of many persons throughout the world who are currently deficient in vitamin A. Other plants will produce nutritionally enhanced oils or will improve the shelf life of the food. You may ask, are nutrients or anti-nutrients in biotech crops different. The answer is no. Both the levels of nutrients and anti-nutrients in the current biotech crops are this same as in conventional crops. As stated, some crops are being developed which will have increased levels of nutrients, including feeds, like lysine and methionine content in corn grain. Likewise, anti-nutrient proteins, such as trypsin inhibitor in soyabeans or gossypol in cotton are unchanged in biotech crops compared to conventional rops.

Livestock feeds such as corn grain, whole-plant chopped corn, corn stover and soyabean from the current biotech crops have been compared with conventional feeds to measure any changes in feed composition. The research clearly shows that the level of nutrients-such as protein carbohydrates, fat, energy, amino acids, fatty acids minerals, vitamins and other components of biotech and conventional feeds are substantially equivalent and are well within the normal range of values reported in the scientific literature. Many people ask, are biotech feeds safe for livestock of course they are. Livestock digest and absorb nutrients from biotech feeds in the same way they do with conventional feeds, the digestive process in all livestock breaks down the nutritional components in feeds and uses these nutrients for the growth and development of the animal. In addition, livestock growth, milk production, milk composition and health are not different, whether fed conventional or biotech feeds. Over 30 different studies have been conducted and all of these studies have shown that corn grain or soyabean meal from biotech plants performs similarly to the grain or meal from conventional plant varieties. Well friends, next week we will look at the nutrients in meat, milk and eggs to see if there is any difference. See you next week-take care.