Cathy Enright, executive director of Council for Biotechnology Information and head of GMO Answers, is the closing keynote speaker for the 2014 ASA Soybean Leadership College. Enright’s presentation is based on “A New Conversation about GMOs and How our Food is Grown.”

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a major topic of discussion recently, resulting in a wide range of questions and emotions. The biotech industry stands behind the health and safety of GM crops on the market today, but acknowledges that a better job could be done on communicating what they are, how they are made, what the safety data says. Enright’s presentation is a step towards a different approach, to open up a new conversation and welcome the toughest questions about GMOs and how food is grown.

With Enright’s appearance at the Soybean Leadership College, the agenda is finally set and will feature an all-star lineup of speakers just like a night at the Grand Ole Opry. Other speakers include: John Phipps, U.S. Farm Report; Charlie Arnot, Center for Food Integrity; Mary Byers, Best Selling author and Damian Mason, ag industry expert.

The ASA Soybean Leadership College is Jan. 13-15, 2014 in Nashville, Tenn. The Soybean Leadership College is open to ASA, USB and USSEC directors, state association and QSSB leaders and staff, soybean producers wanting to assume a leadership position on a state or national level, and college students seeking to further develop their organizational leadership skills.

To register for the ASA Soybean Leadership College, contact your state association. For more information about the Soybean Leadership College go to https://soygrowers.com/learn/soybean-leadership-college/.

The 2014 Soybean Leadership College is sponsored in by the following corporations and checkoff organizations:

BASF, United Soybean Board, Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board, Delaware Soybean Board, Illinois Soybean Board, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Iowa Soybean Association, Kansas Soybean Commission, Maryland Soybean Board, Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Nebraska Soybean Board, New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association, North Carolina Soybean Producers Association, North Dakota Soybean Council, Ohio Soybean Council, South Dakota Soybean Research and Promotion Council, Tennessee Soybean Promotion Council, Virginia Soybean Board, and the Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board.