Introduction:

Agriculture today is not that of our ancestors of yesterday. Over the last decade, we have moved from the animal powered equipment of our forefathers to the space-age technology of today. Not only has the equipment which we use changed, but also the planting techniques and the types of seed that we use. Our seed has now been hybridized to not only grow larger crops, also to provide a degree of resistance to certain diseases . The last decade has produced the most radical and innovative changes due in part to the scientific discovery of the double helix and the advent of a new scientific discipline known as biotechnology. The increasing demand to produce more food crops on less land has brought about a merger of these two industries. Biotechnology has not only helped the agricultural industry by providing improved seed stock, but has opened the door to a future in which growing times will be reduced and the quantity of crops produced per acre will increase exponentially. These changes will not come about overnight, but will require time in which to educate not only those working in the field of agriculture, but also the consumers who will buy the products that are produced. Those in the agricultural field will have to learn many new techniques, and the consumers will have to learn to put their confidence in the products produced and the people who help produce them. It is hoped that these articles will serve to help everyone understand the challenges and benefits of the changes that are slowly coming into being as a result of this merger. index © BOTRESEARCH USA 2002