November 29, 2000

The National Corn Growers Association is urging the Environmental Protection Agency to make a decision based on "sound science" on whether StarLink corn should be used in food. The EPA Scientific Advisory Panel held a hearing Tuesday to discuss Aventis' application for a temporary exemption for StarLink in food.

Rick Tolman, executive vice president and CEO of the NCGA said, "It's in the best interests of our 32,000 members as well as all of U.S. agriculture and our international customers that EPA make this decision on sound science. NCGA has always supported the strict and stringent U.S. regulatory process that approves the safety of biotechnology and other products. This is another step in the process and we're ready to support a decision based on hard data, not just a hot debate."

Tolman noted that the StarLink issue has neither hindered nor helped the development of biotechnology. "Biotechnology still offers farmers and consumers opportunities to address key problems such as insect control in crop production and food processing," he said. "For almost three years, the NCGA's position has been that farmers need access to this technology and to use it when and where it makes them more profitable."

He added that, during the same three-year period, NCGA has recommended that farmers carefully weigh the potential benefits of all biotech products against their marketing opportunities when making their decisions.