Plants for the New Millenium

Plants for the New Millennium

Through February 24, 2003
Plant Exploration

Researchers are developing new plants that improve and diversify our gardens and address some of the health, environmental, agricultural, horticultural, and industrial problems facing us as we enter the 21st century. Visit the Plant Exploration house in the Conservatory to learn more about the genetically engineered plants of the new millennium.

		Genes for vaccine production can be inserted in food plants such as bananas or potatoes. This may provide a safe and economic means of delivering immunization to remote populations. The ability to grow medicine where it is needed may reduce fatality and suffering from such diseases as measles and hepatitis.
		New crops such as Bt corn, cotton, and potatoes, ward off pests by producing their own insecticide. The insecticide is produced internally as a product of genes taken from a naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis. These crops have reduced insecticide use, especially in cotton.
		One-third of the world's population relies on rice as a dietary staple. High yield rice varieties reduce food prices and combat malnutrition. They also would reduce the need for conversion of non-agricultural lands to farming and thus utilize current farmland more efficiently.

United States Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20001
Contact Us | 202-225-8333