The economic, social and environmental value of plant breeding in the European Union
The study on the socio-economic value of plant breeding in the European Union clearly shows the breeding sector has a strong positive impact on growth and employment, as well as on environmental protection and biodiversity preservation. According to study author Steffen Noleppa, plant breeding activities in the EU in the last 15 years resulted in numerous clearly measurable benefits for the economy, the environment, and also society at large. The results of this study should help better inform and facilitate an unbiased public debate on the importance of historic, current and future genetic crop improvements for specific socio-economic and environmental objectives. The study, titled “The economic, social and environmental value of plant breeding in the European Union”, provides information that follows up on and supports a European Parliament report from 2014, which said the EU should play a leading role in the development of sustainable plant breeding techniques and in promoting agricultural and plant breeding research and practice. The study provides a number of key findings that represent science-based evidence showing the numerous benefits plant breeding is offering to European society, and makes clear the socioeconomic and environmental value of plant breeding in the EU.