This week we mourn the loss of climate scientist Dr. Stephen Schneider and share why science and technology, not ideology, should guide agricultural practices worldwide.

Climate warrior Stephen Schneider is dead at 65

Stephen H. Schneider, Ph.D., passed away on Monday, July 19.  He was an influential Stanford University climate scientist and wrote many books on the effects of climate change. He advised every Administration on climate policy since the 1970s and was passionate about educating the public about climate issues.

Dr. Stephen Schneider interviewed with CBI at the 2009 AAAS Meeting

We met Dr. Schneider at the 2009 AAAS Conference and filmed a video interview with him. In the interview Dr. Schneider shared that he believed agricultural biotechnology is an important part of the solution to helping farmers reduce their carbon emissions and combat the effects of climate change. View the video interview with Dr. Schneider.  READ MORE »

This week, we attended a conference on modern agriculture and learned more about how the AgChat Foundation is helping “agvocates” tell their story through social media channels.

CropLife America hosts National Policy Conference focusing on future of agriculture and agricultural policy

This week we attended CropLife America’s National Policy Conference, entitled Modern Agriculture: Exploring its Relationship with Technology, Science & Society. Moderated by Marc Gunther, FORTUNE editor and Greenbiz.com senior writer, the event brought together a diverse crowd of experts who weren’t afraid to share their thoughts on the future of modern agriculture.

During the session entitled “Modern Agriculture: What is it? What Stands in the Way,” the panelists agreed that one of the biggest obstacles to acceptance of modern agriculture practices is the way that scientific information is- and isn’t- communicated.

During his keynote speech, Michael Specter, author of Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives, encouraged farmers and others in the agriculture industry to face the critics head-on and to make sure their story gets told, especially in the media.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark) spoke at the CropLife America National Policy Conference

Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, spoke with CropLife America President and CEO Jay Vroom about the challenges and opportunities of modern agriculture. Both Sen. Lincoln and Rep. Goodlatte are strong supporters of agricultural biotechnology and science-based agriculture and understand the importance that agriculture plays in our society and economy.

AgChat Foundation continues to grow

The AgChat Foundation, born out of the highly visible “#AgChat” community on Twitter, aims to empower farmers and ranchers to connect communities through social media platforms. Learn about the AgChat Foundation and what it is doing to help farmers and ranchers engage on Twitter, Facebook, blogs and other social media services to tell their stories through its interactive website: http://agchat.org/.

Scientist C. Kameswara Rao reviews the document released by the Minister of Environment and Forests of the Government of India that declares a moratorium on the commercial release of Bt brinjal (eggplant) in India. Through a scientific review process Dr. Rao points out the bias and lack of scientific reason in the moratorium document, and then provides real evidence that supports the safety and efficacy of Bt brinjal. View the full report.

Here are a few stories that caught our eye this week. From Arkansas to Brussels, policymakers across the globe are considering the benefits of genetically modified (GM) food, and an international consortium continues its work to improve rice crop yields. Read more below.

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee

Court decisions curbing sale of genetically modified foods counter ’science-based regulatory decisions’

Court decisions setting back the sale of genetically modified foods do not comply with sound science, according to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) and Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.). The Hill reports that the senators sent a letter to USDA Sec.Tom Vilsack last month, arguing that such court decisions may “thrust the U.S. regulatory system for agriculture biotechnology into a non-functioning regulatory system.” READ MORE »

It’s that time of the week: The CBI Ag Biotech news round-up! Here’s what we’re reading this week:

Purdue University Researcher finds that introducing a yeast gene extends the shelf life of tomatoes

Avtar Handa, a professor of horticulture at Purdue University, found that adding a yeast gene to tomatoes increases production of a compound that slows aging and decay. Fully ripe tomatoes from the transgenic tomato plants studied lasted about eight days longer before showing signs of shriveling compared with the non-transgenic plants. This finding can have broad implications and help people have access to fresh fruits even without controlled environment storage. Learn more

Hawaii Crop Improvement Association’s annual meeting

The annual meeting of the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association (a CBI partner) brought together “more than 150 members, allies and stakeholders of Hawaii’s agriculture industry.” In addition to policymakers and local reporters, this year’s meeting featured Douglas Jones, Executive Director of Growers for Biotechnology, who gave the keynote address on Food, Fiber and Fuel for the Future: Embracing Biotechnology.

Loren Mochida of the Hawaii Papaya Industry Association also gave a speech at the meeting on the evolution of Hawaii’s Rainbow papaya (a biotech variety) and its potential to be imported into Japan. Read more and view photos from the annual meeting. 

Many thanks to our friends Karl Haro von Mogel and Frank N. Foode (everyone’s favorite biotech buddy) of Biofortified fame for posting some great photos from our time at BIO 2010 in Chicago. We especially love and appreciate the photos featuring the CBI panel and CBI experts/panelists.  View the photos.

CBI Managing Director Ariel Gruswitz poses with Frank N. Foode

Frank N. Foode makes friends (and a photo album) at BIO 2010

Thanks again to Karl and our favorite biotech buddy, Frank N. Foode!