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Issue: Biodiversity Many environmentalists, including farmers themselves, are very concerned about the loss of biodiversity. Although the increased adoption of conventionally bred crops has raised similar concerns, we want to make sure that we maintain the pool of genetic diversity needed for the future. Scientists continue to work actively to preserve plant species through the preservation of genetic material (DNA). The science of biotechnology has dramatically increased our knowledge of how genes express themselves and highlighted the importance of preserving genetic material. Another related concern relates to the narrow range of crops that farmers currently grow. There are only about 35 crops with significant world production. For example, if all farmers grew the same variety of corn, one unstoppable corn blight could easily destroy a huge amount of our corn production. This has been a concern with conventionally-bred crop varieties as well. Biotechnology can help in two ways. Crop varieties can be developed that are "disaster-resistant" much quicker than through conventional breeding. And biotechnology has the increased capability of developing multiple sub-species of the same crop, tailored to specific agronomic conditions and consumer needs, thereby reducing the chance of an entire corn crop being wiped out. In addition, because some biotech crops produce their own plant pesticides and reduce pesticide sprays, the potential non-target effects of these pesticides on other organisms is reduced. A concern with traditional pesticide applications has been the movement of pesticides out of the field through movement of soil and water. GM crops can lessen this concern.