NCGA
President to Address Biotechnology, Ethanol at World Corn Congress (9-9-04)
While
the United States is the world’s top producer and consumer of
corn, countless other nations around the globe recognize the immeasurable value
of corn as a source of feed, food, fuel and industrial and commercial products.
One of those countries – France – has invited National Corn Growers
Association (NCGA) President Dee Vaughan to participate in its World Corn
Congress next week.
Vaughan said NCGA's involvement in the annual World Corn Congress has benefited
U.S. corn growers by helping to transform French farmers into biotechnology
advocates within the European Union.
“They have heard us talk about how we use biotechnology as a tool that
aids production and allows us to produce in a more environmentally safe way,” he
said, adding that, like U.S. farmers, European growers battle rootworms, corn
borers and other pests. “They’re very excited about biotech corn.
They’re very receptive to the idea of using this technology.”
But Vaughan said biotechnology won’t be the sole focus of next week’s
trip to France. During his address to the World Corn Congress delegates,
Vaughan will focus primarily on how ethanol has added value to the U.S. corn
crop, revitalized rural economies and helped reduce dependence on foreign
oil. His message is that ethanol could do the same thing for Europe.
“
Europe is very much like the United States. They are dependant on the Middle
East for a lot of their oil,” he said. “They have been developing
a biodiesel program using rapeseed, but they’re also interested in
ethanol and other biobased products that can be derived from their agricultural
products.”
Of course, Vaughan said European farmers lack the secret weapon that's made
the U.S. ethanol success story possible – state corn checkoff programs.
“
There is no doubt that state checkoff programs enable us to do what we’ve
accomplished in the past few years,” he said. “If you look at
the ethanol market, you see that 10 percent of the corn crop went to produce
ethanol last year, and it will probably be slightly more than 10 percent
in 2004. That in itself is a huge market that’s been created with our
state checkoff dollars.”
Vaughan said checkoff contributions
will continue to fund important research and promotional efforts that advance
the ethanol industry. “Twenty-five
years ago, the ethanol market was just trying to get started,” he said. “Look
at it where it is today and what it’s done for us.”
Peter Shinn of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters recently discussed
the upcoming trip to France with Vaughan. To hear the interview, click the
Listen Now button.