NCGA Announces Speakers for Second Generation Ag Biotech Conference (03-08-05)

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today announced a distinguished slate of speakers who will be featured at the Second Generation Ag Biotech Conference, Mar. 15 in Washington, D.C.

Conference-goers will focus on how the second generation of biotech products might be regulated, as well product developments in foreign countries and other current issues. Methods for streamlining the regulatory system will also be addressed.

“We’re excited about the level of expertise featured at the conference,” said Darrin Ihnen, chair of NCGA’s Biotech Working Group. “It’s important for everyone involved in the ag biotech industry to interact and continue to build relationships, and this conference will offer us an excellent opportunity to do just that.”

Ihnen said corn producers will have the opportunity to discuss biotech issues with top regulatory officials, seed technology providers and representatives from nonprofit biotech advocacy organizations.

“We’ll have some of the top technology providers at the conference, and they’ll provide growers a direct link to the new technology that’s being developed,” he said. “It’s crucial for us to have an open dialogue with government regulators as well, so we can emphasize the importance of new technology and a thorough, but speedy, approval process.”

Speakers and topics at the conference include (additional speakers may be added):

• Future regulatory issues panel featuring Jeff Stein, director of regulatory affairs for Syngenta Seeds Inc., and Dr. David Heron, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

• A panel on biotech products from other countries featuring Dr. Tom Nickson, ecological technology center team lead for Monsanto Company; Bobby Richey, deputy director of USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service.

• Luncheon keynote address from Sean Darragh, executive director of food and agriculture for the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

• Technology issues panel featuring Dr. Mich Hein, president and CEO of Chromatin, and Robert Calcaterra, president and CEO of Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise.

• End user issues panel featuring NCGA member Bill Horan, of Horan Brothers Farms; Dr. Mark Empie, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for Archer-Daniels-Midland; and Deborah White, associate general counsel of regulatory affairs for the Food Marketing Institute.

• A panel on streamlining the system featuring Kevin Buckley, of Sonnenchein, Nath and Rosenthal LLP; Michael Phillips, vice president of food and agriculture science and regulatory policy for BIO; and Dr. William Goldner, national program leader for the USDA Small Business Innovation Research program’s cooperative state research education and extension service.

A reception will immediately follow the formal program. For more information on the conference, call (636) 733-9004, ext. 144, or click here.