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NCGA
President-elect Fred Yoder Provides a Grower's Perspective on European
Traceability Proposal (10-25-01)
Fred Yoder, National
Corn Grower Association (NCGA) President-elect and a Plain City, Ohio,
grower, provided NCGA's views on the European Union's proposal on labeling
and traceability of biotech crops to a Washington, D.C., gathering of
senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the
European Community and news media.
"NCGA wants
to play an active role in the regulation of agricultural biotechnology
and seeks to retain the United States's ability to provide safe and
reliable food and feed exports," Yoder said. "We know the
use of biotechnology crops is safe. The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the federal Food and Drug Administration put the registration
of products through rigorous scientific scrutiny, and it is vitally
important that these agencies maintain science-based regulatory oversight."
Yoder underscored
the importance that corn growers in particular and U.S. farmers in general
place on meeting the needs of customers. However, he stressed the EU
proposal as written is unworkable. "Growers can currently provide
Identity Preserved crops for specific markets, but there are additional
costs associated with doing so and growers are paid a premium for these
crops."
Yoder presented
the positions as he participated in a panel discussion titled, "Are
the U.S. and Europe Heading for a Food Fight Over Genetically Modified
Food?" at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The Pew Initiative
on Food and Biotechnology hosted the event.
Joining Yoder on
the panel were David Hegwood, Trade Advisor to Agriculture Secretary
Ann Veneman; Tony Van der haegen, Minister-Counselor for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Consumer Affairs, European Commission; and Julia Moore,
a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars. Moderating the panel discussion was David Gergen, editor-at-large
at U.S. News & World Report and an adviser to four presidents.
The Pew Initiative
on Food and Biotechnology is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research project
whose goal is to inform the public and policymakers on issues about
genetically modified food and agricultural biotechnology, including
its importance, as well as concerns about it and its regulation. It
is funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts to the University
of Richmond.
Last reviewed
October 25, 2001
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