U.S. soybean farmers depend on international biotechnology acceptance in order to keep markets open for U.S. soy. So when China, the U.S. soy industry’s largest international customer, is hesitant to approve new traits, the soy checkoff works to calm fears.
United Soybean Board (USB) Past Chairman Jim Stillman and Secretary Lewis Bainbridge recently joined members of the American Soybean Association and other U.S. officials on a biotechnology acceptance mission to China. Several biotech events continue to be held up in the Chinese approval process.
These soy organization leaders held discussions with Chinese officials on the merits of biotechnology and the need for a streamlined approval process.
“A transparent biotech approval process is necessary for both the farmers who grow biotech soybeans and the Chinese people who utilize those soybeans,” says Bainbridge. “We sent a clear message that the world needs these new traits to keep the global soybean supply uninterrupted.”
This is the second mission checkoff farmer-leaders have made to China in recent months, and Chinese officials visited the United States earlier in the summer. Many Chinese also visited the United States for the U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange, where customers agreed to buy $2.8 billion worth of U.S. soy. They also learned about many aspects of American agriculture and met with farmer-leaders.
Bainbridge says that the frequent visits have increased trust between the groups and have led to fruitful discussions.
“Between all of our conversations, we’ve gotten to know our Chinese counterparts well,” says Bainbridge. “The Chinese biotech approval process is going to be an ongoing issue for the U.S. soy industry, and the trust that we have built is going to be important to future discussions.”
Source : unitedsoybean.org