A group of agricultural and scientific organizations praised President Obama for expressing his Administration’s support of “food security, agricultural production and science-based regulation” during the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ G8 discussion entitled “Advancing Food and Nutrition Security.”
In a letter to the President, signed by 38 national organizations representing major sectors of agriculture and science, the groups emphasized that “agricultural innovation, including modern biotechnology, will be necessary to ensure farmers have the tools they need to produce safe and nutritious food, in addition to feed, fuel and fiber, in an environmentally sound and sustainable manner.”
The experts committed to collaborating with the Administration to ensure that agricultural production and scientific innovations help feed a growing world population, which is expected to reach nine billion by 2040. Read the full letter here.
The White House praised biotechnology for its contributions to the national economy Thursday and pledged to continue the regulatory reform that it said would help bring more products to market.
“Expected benefits of this effort include reduced government costs, improved relationships with foreign trade partners, and new market opportunities for U.S. products abroad, among many others,” the White House said in a National Bioeconomy Blueprint released by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
Biotechnology has already had a huge positive impact, the document said. READ MORE »
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow announced her “Grow it Here, Make it Here” plan will encourage bio-based manufacturing in Michigan by giving tax cuts to businesses who invest in bio-manufacturing or purchase equipment to manufacture bio-based products. If adopted, the plan will lead to heightened investment and job creation.
She joined with President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to call for a 50% increase in government purchases of new bio-based products to boost America’s rural economy through innovative agriculture.
Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “The companies that manufacture these goods employ about 100,000 Americans - many of them in rural communities - by marrying together two important economic engines: agriculture and manufacturing.” Read more.
A group of agricultural and scientific organizations praised President Obama for expressing his Administration’s support of “food security, agricultural production and science-based regulation” during the Chicago Council on Global Affairs’ G8 discussion entitled “Advancing Food and Nutrition Security.” 
