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Oct 07, 1999
American Soybean Association (ASA) President Marc Curtis today presented the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee with a list of suggestions on what the Federal government can do to strengthen the commercial environment for biotechnology crops and products. During testimony before the Committee, Curtis, a producer from Leland, Miss., highlighted benefits offered by biotechnology crops, such as the availability of more nutritious foods to consumers and others.
Curtis pointed out that producers are concerned that actions in the European Union (EU), Japan and elsewhere may jeopardize U.S. soybean and soy product exports.
"We have seen the tactics of activist groups in the EU shift from failed attempts to raise fears of the environmental effects of biotech crops to linkages with food safety concerns and the right of consumers to know whether biotech ingredients are in their food," Curtis said. "This linkage led the EU to require labeling of biotech products which, in turn, triggered decisions by leading food manufacturers in several EU countries to take soy out of food product formulations, and by retailers to take these products off grocery store shelves."
As a result, U.S. soybean growers have lost sales in Europe. In Japan, a labeling law approved this year could affect up to 700,000 metric tons of soybeans shipped in bulk for the tofu market.
"The good news is that Japanese buyers are lining up Identity Preserved contracts with U.S. farmers to supply non-biotech soybeans," Curtis said. "Unlike the Europeans, the Japanese appear willing to pay a premium to identify and preserve non-biotech crops through the production and marketing system."
Although U.S. acceptance of biotechnology crops appears solid, Curtis expressed concern that decisions not to use biotechnology ingredients by major food or beverage companies in the United States could dampen consumer opinion. To support biotechnology domestically and overseas, Curtis listed several suggestions for Congress: