... Earth's surface is available for farming. Pests destroy one-third of all food crops planted, even with the use of modern crop protection products. (Mid America Crop Protection Association, 29/08/01) * Crops compete with 80,000 plant diseases; 30,000 weed species; 10,000 insects and 3,000 worms. Without crop protection products consumers would spend 30-40% more of their income on food. (Mid America Crop Protection Association, 29/08/01) * Scientists predict that 132 million children will face starvation in 2020 if current government policies do not change. However, this is less than the 166 million children malnourished in 1997. In order to reach this result improvements in food security will cost $570 billion between 1997 and 2020, with 21% going for research. If $802 billion is spent the figure could be further reduced from 132 million to 94 million. (New Scientist.com, 28/08/01) 2.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY + Approximately 55% of soybeans, 60% of cotton and 36% of corn grown in the ...

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