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The symposium is Monday, Aug. 26, which is the day before the Farm Progress Show kicks off in Decatur.

July 31, 2013

2 Min Read

As the global demand for food continues to grow, experts are searching for solutions to meet burgeoning demand. 

Biotechnology has emerged as an answer to meet the need for increased crop quality and yields.  However, new biotech developments are taking too long to reach farmers because the international regulatory approval process for new biotechnology traits is not synchronized.

The Illinois Soybean Association has announced an extensive agenda to discuss the regulatory and trade issues facing agricultural biotechnology during its International Biotechnology Symposium, Aug. 26, in Champaign. 

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The agenda includes world-renowned experts in biotechnology and agricultural trade, and four international panels, featuring experts in biotechnology development, regulatory processes, international trade and business, and a panel that includes farmers from Europe, South America and the U.S.

The keynote speaker is Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, director of economics and management of the Agrobiotechnology Center and the MSMC endowed professor of agricultural economics at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

"Regulation is an important part of the biotech innovation process," he says.  "Regulation is in place to make sure that new products are safe and are used responsibly, but it also is in place to reduce uncertainty and improve the flow of new biotech products."

Kalaitzandonakes plans to speak about the history of biotechnology innovation, as well as the current state of biotechnology, what has changed in terms of the global regulatory framework, and how changes are affecting the future biotech pipeline in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Steve Wellman, farmer from Nebraska and chairman of the American Soybean Association, stresses that an improved biotechnology approval process is equally important to consumers as it is to the farmers who grow biotech crops.

"The goal behind biotech crops is to increase production in order to have more food available with healthy benefits," says Wellman.  "If the process moved along more quickly, we would have more interest from scientists and experts to enter the marketplace and develop new traits."

ISA invites leaders in agriculture, food and trade from major grain importing and exporting countries to begin work on a biotech solution now.  The symposium will be held the day before the 2013 Farm Progress Show begins in nearby Decatur.  Those interested in attending can register at www.biotechnologysymposium.com.

Sponsors of the symposium include U.S. Soybean Export Council, Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, Dow AgroSciences, Penton/Farm Progress, WinField, Bayer CropScience, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Nebraska Soybean Board, Ohio Soybean Council and the National Soybean Research Laboratory.  ISA welcomes additional sponsors.  Interested organizations can receive information by contacting Craig Ratajczyk, ISA CEO, at 309-663-7692 or [email protected].

Source: Illinois Soybean Association

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