April 8, 2010

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has co-produced with the Courter Film and Associates a series of six short videos on Highlights of the Global Status of Biotech Crops. ISAAA dedicates these videos to the late Nobel Peace Laureate Norman Borlaug who left his footprints in agriculture through his lifetime commitment to fight hunger and poverty. Dr. Clive James, ISAAA Founder and Chair, and author of the Annual Review of the Global Status of Biotech Crops, provides a focused and comprehensive analysis of the different themes of the video series. All six videos are available in video streaming or in downloadable format at the ISAAA website (http://www.isaaa.org) or in YouTube.
	The first 7:24-minute video is The Norman Borlaug Legacy. Dr. James traces the path that Dr. Borlaug took to become an icon of agricultural development for poor farmers of the developing countries of the world. His passion and vision helped "to provide bread for a hungry world" while his acknowledgment of the power of biotechnology has contributed to a better appreciation of the technology. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]
	Global Adoption of Biotech Crops is a 5:38-minute video on the commercialization of biotech crops worldwide and how the technology has contributed to meeting the challenge of doubling food production by 2015. It notes the consistent and substantial multiple benefits experienced by millions of farmers from the use of biotech crops over the last 14 years. Reasons why farmers continue to adopt the technology are discussed to prove the superiority of the technology. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]
	The 7:27-minute video Biotech Crops inDeveloping Countries: The Significance of Bt Rice and Phytase Maize in China highlights the impact of the Chinese government's approval of biosafety certificates for the two biotech crops not only in meeting the demands of local rice and corn requirements of the country but in the opportunities it opens to other Asian countries which consume or use a majority of these two products. The video situates this development amidst a global scenario where 85 million farmers in 25 countries are already benefiting from planting biotech crops, most of whom are repeat farmers. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]
	The Global Impact of Biotech Crops is a 4:50-minute video that emphasizes four main benefits that have occurred in their use by millions of farmers worldwide. These are: increased productivity and income, protection of biodiversity, contribution to reduced environmental footprint, and social and economic benefits. These identified benefits are those that farmers themselves have seen and experienced. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]
	The Future Prospects of Biotech Crops (8:52-minute video) predicts a cautious but optimistic view of how the technology can make a substantial contribution to crop productivity from 2010-2015. It notes two important factors that must be in place to secure the technology's continued growth: political will for the development, approval and adoption of biotech crops, and the increasing flow of appropriate biotech crops that can meet the priority needs of global society. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]
	The 4:27-minute video The Mission of ISAAA: Knowledge Sharing sums up ISAAA's acknowledgement of the fundamental importance of sharing with the global community the attributes of crop biotechnology. It notes that the free sharing of information and experiences enables stakeholders to understand the essence of the technology and share in the significant benefits that can accrue to them. Nevertheless, ISAAA believes in respecting the rights of others to make their own decisions with regards the technology. [ Watch the Video | Download as MP4 ]

Website: http://www.isaaa.org

Published: April 8, 2010