Market needs related to agricultural biotechnology are addressed through market and trade facilitation, research in biotechnology and biosafety, and regulation to ensure the safe development, release, and movement of biotechno logy products. In 2005, approximately 87 percent of U.S. soybean acres, 52 percent of U.S. corn acres, and 79 percent of U.S. cotton acres were planted using seeds incorporating biotechnolgy.
Marketing and Trade:
Voluntary process verification services and programs to standardize testing methodology are
provided by USDA. The validation of the performance of commercially available test kits and
testing for biotechnology-derived seeds are offered on a fee- for-service basis. In 2001, USDA established a biotechnology reference laboratory in Kansas City, Missouri, to facilitate the marketing of U.S. grains and oilseeds by providing standardization of sampling and testing technologies. A voluntary, fee-based process verification program for grains and oilseeds
provides periodic third-party audits.
USDA advances the establishment of science- and rule-based trading systems for the products of agricultural biotechnology through bilateral, regional, and multilateral forums and implementation of capacity-building activities in important markets such as China, Mexico,
Canada, and Japan. Additionally, the U.S. has filed a WTO complaint which challenges the
European Union’s de facto moratorium on approvals of bioengineered crops. A WTO dispute panel recently ruled in favor of the U.S.
