Several organizations teamed up in Washington, DC, last week to bring together more than 100 farmers, researchers, agricultural organization leaders and federal officials to discuss the worldwide benefits of agricultural biotechnology, with a focus on discussing how to accelerate government approval of biotech seed.
The D.C. Biotechnology Roundtable was organized to help advance a more science-based biotech approval process and to reinforce the proven safety of agricultural biotechnology, which farmers around the world use to enhance the yields and quality of soybeans, corn and other crops.
While there is no biotech wheat planted commercially, Washington wheat farmer Brett Blankenship said at the event that he needs innovation to produce more and better wheat with less impact on the environment. Precision farming, minimum tillage systems and improved varieties are already helping achieve that goal, but he said new technologies, including biotechnology, hold promise to help farmers meet the growing demand for wheat in more sustainable ways. Blankenship, NAWG first vice-president, agreed with other farmers saying biotechnology should be viewed as a viable choice for those who see its benefits, including consumers and farmers. NAWG helped sponsor the event.
“It is critical that agriculture lets policymakers and regulators in Washington know how much farmers need biotechnology to sustainably produce food for the world’s population,” said Bill Raben, a soybean farmer from Ridgway, IL. “Scientists and regulatory agencies have established that agricultural biotechnology is safe for humans, animals and the environment. It is a crucial science that helps farmers use fewer resources to produce more food.”
Robert Paarlberg, renowned author and advisor to numerous food and agricultural organizations worldwide, reiterated the proven safety of biotechnology. A professor of political science at Wellesley College and public policy at Harvard University’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Paarlberg observed that opposition to biotechnology comes from environmental and anti-globalization groups in more affluent countries, particularly the European Union. He said the current state of worldwide regulation deprives people of food by preventing use of biotechnology by farmers in poorer countries who are growing food crops such as wheat, rice and potatoes. Additionally, he observed, regulatory hurdles limit the technology to farmers in affluent countries, such as the United States, who raise biotech crops primarily for livestock feed.
NAWG and USW have established a joint position on biotechnology and published “Principles for Commercialization” of biotech traits in wheat. Read more at http://www.wheatworld.org/issues/biotech/ or http://www.uswheat.org/biotechnology.
Source : uswheat.org