Good
morning and welcome. It is my pleasure to be here with you
at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s seminar on
agricultural biotechnology. As those of you who work, research,
and study in this field already know, the United States
scientific community has been a leader in the field of biotechnology.
The U.S. government continues to support the research and
development of biotechnology through its work in international
organizations, through monetary grants and technical assistance
to scientists, and through events such as this seminar.
In addition, the United States is one of the largest consumers
of biotech products in the world. It is our hope that a
common dialogue on biotechnology will both further the ongoing
scientific research in this field and contribute to an increased
public understanding of what biotechnology is and how its
applications can enrich our world.
It has been almost twenty years since biotechnology got
its start, with the first genetic modification of a plant
occurring in 1983. Since then, the biotech field has expanded
in ways few researchers at that time could have imagined.
Today we know that the application of biotech advances can
increase crop yield, allowing farmers to use fewer resources
to maintain a certain level of productions. Biotech plants
can be sown, cared for, and their crops reaped with little
or no use of pesticides, a result that protects the environment
from the exposure to sometimes harsh chemicals. And as the
example of "yellow rice" shows, biotechnology
can be used to enhance the nutritional qualities of a crop,
providing important health and welfare benefits, particularly
in developing countries. These are just a few of the advances
in the area of agricultural biotechnology, indications of
the promise that this emerging science has to offer the
global community.
However, there still remains much work to be done. As a
recent science, biotechnology is still in the early stages
of its development. Various countries and international
organizations are currently struggling with the questions
of regulating this new technology. Regulatory institutions
have done an excellent job thus far, as there has not been
a single documented case of any biotech product causing
health problems in the years since biotech products entered
the world food market in large amounts. But we must continue
to take advantage of opportunities to ensure that decisions
regarding the regulation of biotech products are made in
a science-based manner, consistent with the findings of
scientific research in the field.
With these challenges facing us, our work at events such
as today’s seminar takes on an even greater meaning.
As we strive to better understand this exciting science
of biotechnology, the international community is only just
beginning to deal with the promises and challenges it offers
– we truly stand at the cutting edge of scientific
research.
Let me again offer my welcome to all participants in this
seminar. I hope that this day will be a fruitful one for
all involved. The exchange of ideas among the various interests
represented here today will only further our understanding
of biotechnology, and I look forward to an active discussion
of the issues surrounding it. Thank you.
