St. Louis, Missouri, USA
February 16, 2010
A core responsibility of the United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean checkoff is to inform U.S. farmers and all parts of the U.S. soybean chain how checkoff dollars are being spent. One key tool to disseminate checkoff information is the official Web site of the soybean checkoff – found at www.unitedsoybean.org. Constantly updated with new information and resources, this Web site strives to be a one-stop shop for soybean farmers and others involved or interested in agriculture.
A Biotechnology Library on www.unitedsoybean.org has recently been added to the “Programs” section. This resource provides references, facts and research on biotechnology, an important tool in helping U.S. farmers increase productivity.
“USB farmer-leaders have been actively engaged in the global biotech discussion for more than a decade,” says Richard Fordyce, soybean farmer from Bethany, Mo., and team lead of USB’s Biotechnology Initiative. “During this time, numerous studies and information sources have been developed and compiled to present the U.S. soybean farmer views of how biotech is a critical agricultural tool. This library provides a central location to save these information pieces for easy access by anyone who is interested in biotechnology and U.S. soybeans.”
The USB Biotechnology Library provides information on biotechnology related to food safety, animal agriculture, environmental effects and much more. Many of the documents can be found in various languages and can be selected by clicking on the corresponding flag graphic or choosing the language from a drop-down menu.
This section also includes videos available for download such as an interview conducted last year with the late Nobel laureate and world-renowned agronomist Norman E. Borlaug, Ph.D. Studies on biotechnology, including one conducted by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology about the sustainability of the various soybean production systems in the United States, can also be found on the library.
“This Web site provides easy access for the public to view key information pieces that have been presented by U.S. soybean farmers on a global basis,” adds Fordyce. “The farmers who serve on our Biotechnology Initiative team felt it was critical to ensure that farmers, regulators and the public understand the importance of biotechnology. To ensure this conversation, a number of key documents have been translated into different languages.”
Biotechnology could be a critical tool to help farmers increase productivity to feed a growing world population. Through resources such as the online Biotechnology Library, the soybean checkoff will continue to facilitate understanding about the benefits of biotechnology in agriculture.
USB is made up of 68 farmer-directors who oversee the investments of the soybean checkoff on behalf of all U.S. soybean farmers. Checkoff funds are invested in the areas of animal utilization, human utilization, industrial utilization, industry relations, market access and supply. As stipulated in the Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soybean checkoff.
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