Money Talks - Biotech Farming
Thursday, January 06 2011
by Frank Stasio and Lindsay Thomas
www.ncbiotech.org
North Carolina’s agriculture industry is the oldest and the largest in the state, bringing in about $74 billion annually. While many Tar Heel farmers are still making a living on crops like tobacco and corn, it’s become harder and harder to turn a profit from such traditional crops on small-acre farms. This year, the North Carolina Biotechnology Center is making an effort to cultivate relationships with local growers and educate them about the economic potential of incorporating genetically engineered plants into their harvests. But they’re not talking about 1lb. raspberries. The Center is promoting a range of biotechnology advances that includes everything from improving fruit flavor to growing soybeans that can be used as vaccines. Joining host Frank Stasio to talk about this new research and the role biotechnology could play in the future of farming in North Carolina is Amber Shirley, Director of Biotechnology Crop Development at the NC Biotechnology Center, and Matthew Veal, assistant professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at North Carolina State University. This segment is part of an occasional series on business, finance and the economy called “Money Talks.”
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