Wayne Tyson wrote: > Please supply evidence that genetic engineering or any other method can > double the productivity of any species without increasing the amount of > water and nutrients, including a cogent explanation of just how this is > done.
Wayne, according to the National Corn Growers Association: "Farmers today produce 70 percent more corn per pound of fertilizer than in the 1970s." http://ncga.com/files/pdf/worldofcorn2010.pdf USDA fertilizer use statistics http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/FertilizerUse/ show US consumption of fertlizer for corn, cotton, wheat and soybeans has been generally stable since the mid-1970's whereas the yields per acre have risen dramatically: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/index.asp Specific examples of yield increases since 1979: Corn: Up about 63% http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/cornyld.asp Cotton Up about 52% http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/cotnyld.asp Soybeans Up about 53% http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/soyyld.asp Winter Wheat Up about 26% http://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Field_Crops/wwyld.asp With regard to your question "just how this is done" Monsanto explains in general terms on it's website: "how we can use breeding, biotechnology and better agronomy to help double yields." http://tinyurl.com/2ag8zl Excerpt: "With the genome sequencer, Monsanto researchers are able to learn in 10 days what it used to take them 10 years of research to discover - that's why it's playing an integral role in the company's commitment to double yields by 2030." Paul Cherubini El Dorado, Calif.
