· Enhance our support for non-GMO foods through funding research and trade efforts on
these products.
· USDA should sponsor a hearing on biotechnology, inviting not only the biotech companies,
but also other scientists from concerned groups such as the Center for Food Safety and the
Union of Concerned Scientists.
· Support legislation ensuring the public’s “right to know” the locations of GMO
experimental field trials.
· USDA should not promote products for large biotech corporations.
· Tighten grain grading and restrict the blending of corn.
· Mitigate trade restrictions on biotech crops.
· Obtain access for biotech products, especially small crops such as papaya, into Japan.
· Use the farm bill to address the general concerns raised and lack of knowledge about
agricultural biotechnology in Japan. The papaya industry is a blueprint for the use of
biotechnology to overcome production problems, but now funding and specialists are
needed to overcome the regulatory hurdles that obstruct commercialization.
· Develop the ability to distinguish clearly whether grain being exported is GMO or non-
GMO.
· Make public the amounts of soy, corn, and cotton that are GMO crops produced in the U.S.
· Corporate seed policies (those which give a corporation leeway to determine which seeds
can be used by farmers) should be abolished.
· Promote GMO farming and research of GMO products which will help us gain a
competitive advantage over other World Trade Organization farmers.
· Divert funding for GMO research back to traditional plant breeding and agricultural systems
research.
· Concern was expressed about anti-GMO legislation being proposed by local governments.
· Support the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Program in the 2002 farm bill especially for
smaller crops, especially to he lp mitigate trade restrictions.
· Many new crop varieties with numerous benefits remain undeveloped due to the
inordinately high regulatory compliance costs. If funded, the Specialty Crop Regulatory
Initiative would help get some of these improved crops on the market.
