Veneman Takes Europe to Task on Precautionary Principle

January 7, 2002

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, speaking last week at the Oxford Farming Conference, Oxford, England, took the European Union to task for its "precautionary principle" that she said rests "on the premise of the mere existence of theoretical risk." It is not based on "any objective standard" and could block some of the "most promising new agricultural products" now in the development pipeline or actually being produced.

"Unfortunately, in Europe there is now a competing concept called the precautionary principle, which seems to rest on the premise of the mere existence of theoretical risk. Aside from other concerns, this concept, which is not based on any objective standard, could easily block some of the most promising new agricultural products ... especially those based on biotechnology. Over the longer term, it could deny the benefits of new technology to developing countries and stymie progress in our efforts to feed a growing global population and eradicate age-old diseases," Veneman told the conference.

One of the promising new markets for agriculture, she continued, involves "the emerging role of agriculture in pharmacological or functional foods" that may include vaccines and dietary staples or provide protein or nutrients deficient in diets of some groups. So-called "golden rice" which combats vitamin A and iron deficiencies is an example.

"In poorer countries an estimated half million children go blind each year because of the vitamin A deficiency. Just imagine the possibility of treating widespread debilitating diseases through the provision of medicines in widely consumed staple food products. Scientists are just beginning to explore the potential for pharmacological food products," she said. Agriculture production as a source of renewable energy already is a reality: clean burning fuel, industrial ethanol, soybeans, diesel are examples, said Veneman. "As research continues in the use of proper forest products and products from animal operations the potential is staggering in renewable energy resource from agriculture in so many different potential arenas."

She added, "Industrial uses for farm products continue to multiply, especially chemicals from plants: soy-based inks, industrial adhesives, and bio- polymers. For example, scientists recently noted that soybean oil can replace many petroleum-based resins used to make auto parts. Perhaps most intriguing is the opportunity to provide environmental services, such as carbon sequestration, using agriculture to sequester or remove carbon from the atmosphere to reduce greenhouse gases."

The possibilities go beyond current incentives to encourage conservation practices and put acreage into conservation areas. "To reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere, governments or industries can pay farmers to engage in specific farming practices to embed carbon in the soil, which is a new conservation role for agriculture." Additionally, "new uses offer farmers new possibilities for producing differentiated products and services to meet the specific needs of markets and consumers, rather than producing only generic commodities. The emergence of those new markets and possibilities holds significant implication for farm size and type, location, income, and the future viability for all communities. For example, many small farms today are successful because they're targeting niche markets, such as organic markets, urban farmers markets, very specialized products."

Agricultural biotechnology, said Veneman, "is a major force, shifting agriculture from traditional commodity-based systems to characteristic-specific value-enhanced product systems. Likewise, new packaging and processing technologies are also revolutionizing ways in which food can be produced and marketed. Today the business environment in developed countries particularly is very clear. Producers are operating in a global technologically-advanced, rapidly diversifying, highly-competitive business environment driven largely by increasingly sophisticated consumers."