40th Anniversary of Earth Day

April 22 is annually celebrated as Earth Day. This year an estimated 1 billion people will mark its 40^th year anniversary. The Earth Day Network says that it was founded "on the premise that all people, regardless of race, gender, income, or geography, have a moral right to a healthy, sustainable environment." Earth Day aims to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and create a sustainable environment.

In a media feature, Monsanto says that Earth Day is a time to recognize farmers who have adapted new technologies and agricultural practices that are more environment friendly and sustainable. Conservation tillage for example, is an environment friendly practice where farmers plant the new crop in the previous year's plant residue. Benefits of the practice include reduced soil erosion, more nutrient-enriched soil, and reduced consumption of fuel to operate equipment. The use of herbicide-tolerant crops has been suggested by studies for the increase use of conservation tillage. Global pesticide reduction in crops has also been noted from the application of biotechnology. The use of insect-resistant plants may require little to no application of pesticides.

For background information about Earth Day visit http://www.earthday.org/earthday2010 The Monsanto feature is at http://www.monsanto.com/features/earth_day.asp?WT.svl=2