Good Day BIO: 2 ways we can tackle hunger

Before we sign off for the holiday weekend, we look at the critical challenges of world hunger and fatal disparities in asthma and allergy treatment—and what biotech is doing about it. Plus, we share how you can participate in our newsroom during BIO International Convention. (730 words, 3 minutes, 39 seconds)

We’re taking a quick break for Memorial Day. We will resume publication on Tuesday, May 31. Have a safe and restful holiday!

2 ways we can tackle hunger

Ahead of World Hunger Day, we look at how we can address growing hunger worldwide—and we already have the tools available to do it.

2.4 billion people worldwide don’t have access to adequate nutrition—“almost a third of our planet,” says The Hunger Project. 

The U.S. is not immune—with 38 million people, including 12 million children, considered food insecure, according to USDA. Rural communities and communities of color face disproportionately more hunger, says Feeding America. 

Climate change will make it worse—and we’re already seeing this occur, with a record-breaking heatwave in India is “scorching” the country’s wheat crop (as just one example). 

Biotech can provide “solutions and tools,”said BIO in comments to the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on Monday—to “increase crop yields,” “improve carbon sequestration,” “reduce water use,” “reduce food waste,” and “bolster animal welfare,” among others.

But there are two things we need to do: 

1. Incentivize the adoption of biotechnology—by streamlining and expediting “regulatory pathways,” continued BIO in the comments. (FWIW, the U.K. is making headway on a bill to relax regulations on gene-edited crops to address the coming food crisis.)

2. “Address the root causes of hunger and structural and systemic inequities,” says Feeding America. We can start by ensuring all farmers have access to innovation—such as through the Growing Climate Solutions Act—and ensuring all people have equitable access to science.

Biotech companies are taking action. BIO member Bayer, for example, pledged $160 million to help end global hunger by providing seeds and R&D support to smallholder farmers, while several member companies of CropLife International continue to advocate for responsible and accessible innovation.

Tomorrow, May 28, is World Hunger Day—a day dedicated to bringing awareness of the hunger crisis and solutions. Let's hope biotech solutions are on the menu.

More Agriculture and Environment News: 

Senate Ag Committee: Sen. Fischer urges Secretary Vilsack to resolve Mexico’s barriers to ag biotech
During yesterday’s Senate Agriculture Committee hearing with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) noted that Mexico’s policy on agricultural biotechnology is out of step with its commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), will restrict grower access to innovative agricultural tools, and increase costs for consumers on both sides of the border. In response to her question on how the U.S. government is working to resolve this issue, Secretary Vilsack said he recently discussed this issue with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and is confident exports will continue. You can view the question at 02:11:20.

Why asthma is a seasonal – and socioeconomic – problem

We’ve been asking ourselves “COVID or allergies?” a lot lately—but for some patients, asthma and allergies go far beyond a stuffy nose. During Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, we look at what biotechnology is doing about it—and why equitable access to science could save lives.

By the numbers: 65 million Americans suffer from asthma and allergies, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). 

Like many health challenges, communities of color are disproportionately affected. Black Americans are nearly 1.5 times more likely to have asthma, and three times more likely to die from it, according to AAFA’s recent study, Asthma Disparities in America.

Does pollen discriminate? “Research shows that asthma disparities are highly driven by socio-environmental and economic factors, and that structural injustices over time have led to a situation of accumulated disadvantage for specific racial and ethnic subpopulations in the U.S.,” says the report.

Biotech is taking action. AAFA launched Health Equity Leadership and Advancement (HEAL), to support new approaches in battling inequity in asthma and allergies. BIO member Amgen is providing $1 million to support the first year, which will involve pilot projects focused on adults and teens with asthma in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, and St. Louis.

What they’re saying: “Asthma is an especially complex disease, and we know multidimensional disparities have created significant challenges in achieving equitable health outcomes,” said Ponda Motsepe-Ditshego, Vice President, Global Medical Therapeutic Area Head, General Medicine at Amgen. “This is why we’re supporting AAFA’s critical work with HEAL Innovation.” 

Learn more about what biotech’s doing to develop innovation to address asthma and allergies.

President Biden’s Friday: Addressing the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2022, then heading to Delaware. He’ll travel to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to meet with families of victims of Tuesday’s shooting. Meanwhile, 12 countries have joined the U.S. in the Indo-Pacific Framework, reports Agri-Pulse. 

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Enjoy the holiday weekend.