Yoder Discusses Coexistence and Biotechnology with Polish, Lithuanian Groups (4-14-06)

Ohio corn grower Fred Yoder represented the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) on a trip last month to Poland and Lithuania to discuss biotechnology and coexistence with government officials and students.

The theme of the trip, organized by the U.S. Department of State and its Foreign Agriculture Service, was the practicalities of coexistence using biotech, conventional and organic cropping systems. Dr. Martina Newell-McGloughlin from the University of California at Davis joined Yoder on the tour.

In Poland, Yoder and Newell-McGloughlin gave presentations at the agriculture department in Warsaw; at U.S. Ambassador Victor Ashe’s residence; and at Warsaw Agriculture University, the oldest ag college in Poland. In Lithuania, they presented remarks to agriculture and health department officials in Vilnius.

Newell-McGloughlin explained the various techniques used in the past and present for breeding. She also discussed how modern biotechnology worked and how much more precise and reliable the technology was compared to other known methods.

“After Martina spoke, I would present how the American producer used these new technologies while safeguarding other cropping systems,” Yoder said. “I think our tag-team effort worked well, judging by the quality of the questions afterward.”

Yoder said the groups were concerned about possible cross-pollination of organic and biotech crops. He informed them that growers take the necessary precautions before planting to ensure cross-pollination does not take place.

“It was very important to stress that communication and coordination are the real ingredients in making coexistence work,” Yoder said. “In my opinion, a farmer using insect-resistant biotech traits could be a good neighbor to a farmer growing organic crops because the biotech farmer will not apply broad-spectrum insecticides, which if used, could drift into a neighbor’s field and contaminate the organic crop. Plus, the varying pollinating windows for biotech crops and organic crops would lessen the chance of pollen drift.”

Ambassador Ashe has a plant scientist background and said he believes biotechnology can be useful for Poland if used as a fuel source, Yoder said.

“Interestingly, he felt the most practical way to sell the use of biotechnology to Poland was through biofuels first instead of food,” Yoder said. “Fuel is extremely expensive, and he thought getting biofuel production established in Poland would be an easier way to assure the Poles about the usefulness of biotechnology.”

Last year, Yoder visited Slovakia to discuss biotechnology. He has noticed a change in some Europeans’ thinking after his two visits to Europe.

“Now, they’re really curious to learn about biotechnology instead of just condemning it,” Yoder said. “In the past, all they have heard the opponents’ viewpoints, but now we’re getting an opportunity to explain the benefits of biotechnology.”