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Agribusiness takes most seats on USDA biotech panel
(Thursday, April 10, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- Reuters 04/08/03: Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman on Tuesday gave agribusinesses and farm industry groups most of the seats
on a federal advisory committee responsible for examining the future of biotech
crops.
The 18 committee members will meet as USDA implements new restrictions
on the planting of experimental pharmaceutical plants and reviews Monsanto's
application for the commercialization of the first biotech wheat crop.
Monsanto, Cargill, DuPont , General Mills, Procter & Gamble, BASF
Plant Science, CropTech Corp. and the North Mississippi Grain Co. were
each given one seat.
The National Corn Growers, American Seed Trade and the National
Association of Wheat Growers also have members on the committee.
"This committee will take a forward look at agriculture
biotechnology and will serve as an important resource as USDA addresses
emerging issues related to this field," Veneman said.
USDA spokeswoman Alisa Harrison would not elaborate on what biotech
issues the committee will examine.
The remaining seven seats were given to academic experts, consumer
groups and an international plant research center in Mexico. The Union
of Concerned Scientists and the Center for Science in the Public
Interest were each given a spot. | |
