AFBF, ACGA Speak Out on Biotech

May 10, 2000

The American Farm Bureau Federation says biotechnology holds too much promise for feeding the world to allow scare tactics to retard advances. The American Corn Growers Association, meanwhile, submits comments on biotech to USDA, urging that the department be forced to spell out the benefits and risks associated with genetically modified crops to farmers and mandate labels on all GM foods.

With the scientific community constantly surveying new products and rendering biotech crops safe, U.S. consumers should embrace the advances provided by technology, says AFBF President Bob Stallman. "Farmers and ranchers have great confidence in the judgment of respected scientific authorities who have the experience and expertise required to make informed decisions."

Other countries don’t have similar bodies "that enjoy such respect from their populations, and that’s one reason consumers in other countries worry so much about their food," Stallman says. He adds that while anti-biotech forces have "impugned the process, they have yet to offer a shred of verifiable evidence that biotech food is unsafe to humans or threatens the environment."

"I am confident that increased evaluation and examination by experts of the biotechnology process itself and the products that it develops will permit more rapid consumer acceptance of the innovations," says Stallman. "As good as our system is, America’s farmers and ranchers welcome the extra emphasis on safety. We are especially encouraged by recent announcements from the Clinton Administration that should answer many consumer concerns, such as developers of biotech foods are now required to work even more close and directly with the Food and Drug Administration."

In comments submitted to USDA’s Advisory Committee on Biotechnology, the ACGA made 16 recommendations the association believes will protect producers "in this whole debate over genetically modified crops."

"The ACGA is concerned that while those within the biotechnology, academic and environmental communities will have the opportunity to express their opinions about the proliferation of GMOs to the committee, agricultural producers will be left out of this debate," said Gary Goldberg, ACGA CEO. "After all, our responsibility is to farmers, not to the biotechnology industry, and we want to make sure that farm voices are heard concerning the issue of GMOs and their impact."

Among the recommendations, ACGA said USDA should be required to provide "fair and evenhanded information to farmers, spelling out the benefits and risks associated with the continued use of GMOs." The Food and Drug Administration should be forced to begin a long-term, independent testing on GMO products and labels should be mandated for all food items that contain GMOs, ACGA said.