Support for US government's National Biotechnology Week
2002, National Biotechnology Week, has been welcomed by The
Alliance for Better Foods. The organisation said that the
unanimously passed Senate Resolution 243 reflected the growing
recognition for the benefits of biotechnology - both in combating
world hunger and in the development of more nutritious foods.
Last week's US Senate resolution to declare this week, 21-28 April, 2002, National Biotechnology Week, has been welcomed by The Alliance for Better Foods, an organisation which aims to raise support for biotechnology.
In a statement the Alliance said that the unanimously passed Senate Resolution 243 reflected the growing recognition for the benefits of biotechnology - both in combating world hunger and in the development of more nutritious foods.
"Inaugurating National Biotechnology Week provides further evidence that biotechnology is seen by our political leaders as having the potential toimprove the availability and nutrition of food throughout the world," said Gene Grabowski, spokesman for the Alliance for Better Foods. "The Senateshould be commended for encouraging public awareness about the benefits ofthis important technology," he added.
The resolution states that biotechnology contributes to "crop yields and farm productivity, reduces chemical pesticide use, and enhances the quality,value and suitability of crops for food and other uses that are critical to the agriculture of the United States." The resolution also recognized "thepotential of biotechnology for increasing food production, particularly indeveloping nations facing chronic food shortages."
Grabowski noted that the past few years have seen a steadystream of reports, statements and policy positions advocating the use ofbiotechnology to fight hunger, to develop better foods and to improve theenvironmental performance of agriculture.
In the summer of 2001, the annual United Nations Human Development Reportindicated that biotech crops could "significantly reduce malnutrition," andespecially help "poor farmers working marginal lands in sub-Saharan Africa."It also warned that opposition to biotech foods in developedcountries may inhibit the ability of poorer nations to feed their growingpopulations.
The European Commission has also showed support recently for biotechnology. The Alliance For Better Foods noted that in autumn 2001, the Commission released a 15-year analysis ofthe scientific evidence from 81 research projects. It concluded : "The use ofmore precise technology and the greater regulatory scrutiny probably make[biotech crops] even safer than conventional plants and foods."
The pastyear has also seen the Environmental Protection Agency announce that itscomprehensive two-year study of Bt corn showed that it was safe for humans,animals and the environment.
