One, Europe is a huge market for U.S. food products like soybeans.”If Europe refuses biotech soybeans, it will be tremendousblow to the industry,” Guillebeau said.And two, U.S. shoppers don’t ignoreÿEuropean concerns.”Many are starting to wonder if we shouldn’t be more concerned,”he said.Establishing Regional CentersTo address these issues and others, the second step in Glickman’splan is for USDA to propose establishing regional centers nationwide.These centers would evaluate biotech products long-term and provideongoing information to growers, consumers, researchers and regulators.Glickman said biotechnology is changing the way farmers dobusiness. But social and economic trends, including increasedmarket concentration, have a powerful effect on farming, too.So does a rise in contracting, as well as fast-evolving technologiessuch as information power and precision agriculture.”We’re seeing different marketing techniques such as organics,direct marketing, co-ops and niche markets,” he said. “Andnonfarm, industrial uses for plants are expanding.”Family farmers, he said, are among his biggest concerns. Biotechnologyshould lead to greater — not fewer — options for farmers.”As this technology develops,” he said, “wemust reach a balance between fairness to farmers and corporatereturns.”(Dan Glickman photograph courtesy of U. S. Department ofAgriculture.) Embrace biotechnology with an eye on potential problems. Thatwas the message U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman gavethe National Press Club in Washington, D.C., July 14.”Aswe encourage the development of these new food production systems,we cannot blindly embrace their benefits,” he said. “Wehave to ensure consumer confidence and assure farmers they willbenefit.”Five Principles/Advisory CommitteeGlickman said five principles should guide biotechnology inthe 21st century: (1) an arm’s-length regulatory process, (2)consumer acceptance, (3) fairness to farmers, (4) corporate citizenshipand (5) free and open trade.Glickman set up a Secretary’s Advisory Committee on AgriculturalBiotechnology. The group is a cross-section of 25 people fromgovernment, academe, agriculture, agribusiness and environmental,ethics and consumer groups. It will begin meeting in the fall.”The committee will provide advice on a broad range ofissues on biotechnology and on maintaining a flexible policy asbiotechnology evolves,” he said. “Public policy mustlead and not merely react. Industry and government cannot engagein hedging or double-talking as problems develop.”Soybean, Corn and PharmaceuticalsMost of today’s U.S. soybeans and a fast-rising part of thecorn crop are genetically engineered, he said. And researchersare looking at genetically modified mosquitoes that can’t carrymalaria. But Glickman said we have only chipped the high-techiceberg.”Biotechnology is already transforming medicine,”he said. “Pharmaceuticals such as human insulin for diabetes,interferon and other cancer medications, antibiotics and vaccinesare all products of genetic engineering.”U.S. scientists are also looking at processing drugs from milkfrom genetically altered cows. Others are growing bananas thatmay one day deliver vaccines to children in developing countries.USDA, FDA and EPAThree federal agencies – The U.S. Department of Agriculture,Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency- each play a role in determining the use of biotechnology productsin the United States.USDA tests products for risk to other plants and animals andhas already approved about 50 genetically altered plant varieties.FDA reviews biotechnology’s effect on food safety. EPA examinespesticides.To keep pace with fast-growing agricultural biotechnology,Glickman announced two new steps “to ensure we are fullyprepared to meet the regulatory challenges.”Outside Review of Biotech ProcessThe first is to create an independent scientific review ofUSDA’s biotech approval process. The idea is to make sure USDAscientists have the best information and tools to keep regulatorycapabilities evolving at the same pace as new technology.To address complex issues like pharmaceutical-producing plantsor genetically modified livestock will require consulting experts,many of whom are outside USDA.Farm biotech firms have two main concerns, said Paul Guillebeau,pesticide coordinator for the University of Georgia College ofAgricultural and Environmental Sciences.
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