ASA’s Biotech Working Group (BWG) met Jan. 23-24, Washington, D.C., to discuss a wide range of issues impacting the biotech industry and farming.

The meeting began with an update on the future of biotech and gene editing regulations from Bernadette Juarez, USDA Deputy Administrator of Biotechnology Regulatory Services. Following this presentation, Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes, PhD, from the University of Missouri – Columbia, gave a report on a soybean checkoff funded project that provides an economic and environmental assessment of CRISPR technology.  

The meeting continued with a discussion of international concerns impacting biotechnology. The group heard an update exports and international issues from Jim Sutter and Roz Leeck with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, which was followed by a presentation on the industry’s progress to address emerging concerns in the EU regarding maximum residue limits, from Gretchen Flanley with Sherpa 360 on behalf of the Row Crops Alliance. After Gretchen’s remarks, ASA Director of International Trade Policy Hanna Abou-El-Seoud provided information on the implications for biotech in Phase 1 of the China Trade Agreement.

The Biotech Working Group provides the forum where overarching biotechnology issues like educational needs and market access barriers, are discussed and addressed by technology providers and U.S. soybean growers. The group includes representatives from industry biotech trait providers, along with farmer-leaders and staff from ASA, USB and USSEC. At the conclusion of the January meeting, the group discussed the need to potentially expand this group to address other challenges and include participation from more crop protection companies in the industry.

BWG industry members from BASF, Bayer, Corteva and Syngenta also participated in the meeting and continue to support the efforts of this group. The BWG will gather again for a meeting, Aug. 5-6, in West Lafeyette, Indiana. For more information on the group, click here.

Photo: (from left) ASA President Bill Gordon (MN), Vice President Kevin Scott (SD), Secretary Brad Doyle (AR), Treasurer Brad Kremer (WI), and Governing Committee Member Stan Born (IL) participate in BWG meeting.