Bloomington, Illinois, USA
July 28, 2015
The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) reports agricultural biotechnology traits continue to hit roadblocks in reaching the market. With an approval process that is asynchronous and susceptible to international politics, ISA notes traits that may contribute to food safety and security often are delayed.
In order to address these detrimental systems, ISA and its farmer-leaders, along with leading U.S. agricultural organizations and biotechnology providers, are hosting the International Biotechnology Symposium, Aug. 31, the day before the Farm Progress Show, in Bloomington, Ill.
Registration is already underway for the half-day event. International agricultural stakeholders, along with ISA farmer-leaders, will discuss biotechnology trait approval with a focus on China and the European Union. With a growing population throughout the world, ISA believes that biotech traits are key to a healthy and secure food source for people throughout the world.
Speakers at this year's event include Mike Dwyer, chief economist at the U.S. Grains Council; Jeff Nawn, senior manager of biotech affairs and regulatory at DuPont Pioneer; Stephanie Murphy, director of international government affairs and trade at Monsanto; and keynote speaker Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, a University of Missouri economist.
More than 200 biotech regulators, government officials, company and organization representatives, international trade experts and farmers from 12 countries on five continents participated in the first ISA biotech symposium. Invitees to this year's event include Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. To view the agenda, register and participate in the discussion on biotech approval, visit biotechnologysymposium.com.
Along with ISA, sponsors of the symposium include Penton/Farm Progress, DuPont Pioneer, the U.S. Soybean Export Council, Dow AgroSciences, Monsanto, Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Syngenta, National Corn Growers Association, National Soybean Research Laboratory, Indiana Soybean Alliance and Bayer CropScience.
ISA represents more than 45,000 soybean farmers in Illinois through the state soybean checkoff and membership efforts. The checkoff funds market development, soybean production and profitability research, promotion, issues management and analysis, communications and education. Membership and advocacy efforts support Illinois soybean farmers' interests in local areas, Springfield and Washington, D.C. ISA programs are designed to ensure Illinois soy is the highest quality, most dependable, sustainable and competitive in the global marketplace. For more information, visit the website www.ilsoy.org.
Topics
Species
