I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. A lot of people are afraid of bioengineered food. Why?
Figures from the national center for public policy research show of the 42 highly indebted nations, 39 suffer from hunger. Plant viruses, soil erosion, and inadequate storage are endemic problems for developing world farmers.
Agricultural biotech can help. Swiss researchers have developed a new breed of rice that has a higher iron content to help the 3.7 billion iron deficient people worldwide. There is also a genetically engineered tomato with three times the normal level of beta-carotene, which the human body processes into Vitamin A.
Researchers have also developed a vaccine for the Hepatitis Virus that can be taken via banana consumption; Hepatitis Vaccination for a mere $.02 per dose instead of the current rate of $125 per dose. This is technology we should be afraid of?
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas could change the world. I'm Pete du Pont. Next time, the economy, stupid.