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| Biotech
Working Group Chair Helen Inman, standing, addresses growers
and industry representatives at a meeting in Chicago last
week. |
Biotech
Working Group Meets in Chicago to Discuss Policy (6-11-04)
Many of
the industry’s top seed companies and grain handlers
met with the National Corn Growers Association’s (NCGA) Biotechnology
Working Group (BWG) in Chicago last week to discuss NCGA’s
biotech policy and issues affecting the industry.
Helen Inman, chair of the 10-member working group, said industry
representatives were invited to the regularly scheduled BWG meeting
to shed some light on how regulatory and technology issues are
affecting biotechnology. Syngenta, Bayer CropScience, Pioneer,
Garst, ExSeed Genetics, Dow AgroSciences, Golden Harvest, Cargill,
Archer Daniels Midland and Monsanto all were represented at the
meeting.
“The interaction between the growers and the industry representatives
was great. There was plenty of good, open discussion,” said
Inman, who farms near Bancroft, Iowa. “It gave us a chance
to understand some of the issues they’re facing, and it was
good to hear their concerns and discuss how we might go about addressing
those issues.”
Inman said the group discussed how to protect markets while ensuring
that growers still have access to the best technology available.
The working group is also considering ways to add more flexibility
to its policy, she said. Trade issues, channeling, market opportunities,
seed purity, customer outreach and other topics were also addressed.
“You had representation from the complete production chain
there, from the tech providers to the growers to the processors,” said
Mark Empie, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs
for ADM. “And each link in the chain has different perspectives,
and it’s very important to have a good understanding of those
varying views. We can’t operate in a vacuum.”
Aside from conducting regular business, the group had the opportunity
to tour the Chicago Board of Trade and observe trading activities.
For more information
on NCGA’s biotechnology policy, click here.