BIO President: Executive Order on Agricultural Biotechnology Is ‘Important Step Forward’

Washington, D.C. (June 11, 2019) – The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) today expressed support for President Donald J. Trump’s executive order, titled “Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products.” The executive order (EO 13874) directs the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to review their respective agricultural biotechnology regulatory systems in an effort to streamline processes and remove overly burdensome regulations.

The following statement may be attributed to BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood:

“America is on the threshold of entering a new era of sustainable agriculture and food production, and it’s important we get this right for farmers, consumers, U.S. companies, and the world as a whole. With prudent regulations, we can foster American innovation and bring to market biology-driven solutions that are improving nutrition, reducing food waste, increasing crop yield, combating debilitating crop diseases, and advancing environmentally friendly farming practices.

“BIO applauds the Trump administration for taking this important step forward to ensure government policy does not hinder 21st-century biotechnology from addressing the many global challenges—from a looming food crisis to climate change—facing society today. We will continue to engage with the agencies throughout this process to ensure our regulatory infrastructure is science-based and transparent, and just as we are committed to working with the government, we also pledge to be a driver of forthright conversations and dialogues with consumers in an effort to identify shared values and energize public understanding.”

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