NCGA’s Corzine Emphasizes Benefits of Biotechnology as Member of AC21 (10-5-06)

A recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) reaffirms the benefits of biotechnology for agriculture, says the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Leon Corzine.

The report took a broad overview of biotechnology’s role in American agriculture and its future, such as crops grown specifically for biofuels production, animal feed or pharmaceuticals. Overall, AC21 believes the future is bright for biotechnology.

“AC21 acknowledges the future is hard to predict, but the opportunities provided to agriculture by research and biotechnology are tremendous,” said Corzine. “As biotechnology helps us meet the needs of a changing world, technology and research will play a big role in making the world a better place. Agriculture and corn growers are well-positioned to be a part of the exciting changes unfolding before us to provide food, feed, fiber, and fuel for our future.”

The AC21 consists of 20 members representing the biotechnology industry; the seed industry; international plant genetics researchers; farmers; food manufacturers; commodity processors, handlers, and exporters; environmental and consumer organizations; and academics. Corzine is the only farmer in the group.

“I am happy to provide the farmer prospective, putting the farmer’s face in the issues for our future,” he said.

Corzine said biotechnology has had benefited corn growers greatly. In 11 years, corn growers have gone from no biotech crops to planting biotech traits on more than 60 percent of corn acres in 2006.

“We will provide products to improve society not even dreamed of only a few years ago,” Corzine said. “Biotechnology is helping us realize these opportunities.”

Such opportunities include:

• Plant varieties that provide improved human nutrition;
• Products designed for use in improved animal feeds;
• Crops resistant to drought and other environmental stresses such as salinity;
• Crops engineered to produce pharmaceuticals, such as vaccines and antibodies;
• Crops engineered for particular industrial uses (e.g., crops having improved processing attributes such as increased starch content, producing useful enzymes that can be extracted for downstream industrial processes, or modified to have higher content of an energy-rich starting material such as oil for improved utilization as biofuel); and
• Transgenic animals for food, or for production of pharmaceuticals or industrial products (e.g., transgenic salmon engineered for increased growth rate to maturity, transgenic goats producing human serum factors in their milk, and pigs producing the enzyme phytase in their saliva for improved nutrient utilization and manure with reduced phosphorus content).

Corzine reminds opponents of biotechnology that the government and producers are doing everything they can to ensure a safe biotechnology product is delivered.

“The group also acknowledges the need for proper oversight,” he said. “The United States regulatory system helps secure the safest, most abundant, nutritious, affordable food supply in the world. The regulatory system is evolving to meet the rapid advances in biotechnology.”

To access the report, click here.