Modernizing Oversight of Animal Biotechnology Will Help Tackle Climate Change and Nutrition Challenges
The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) appreciates the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) longstanding commitment to food and agricultural innovation and looks forward to reviewing the Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) aimed at restructuring the U.S. regulatory system for animal biotechnology.
The following statement may be attributed to Dana O'Brien, BIO Executive Vice President for Food & Agriculture:
“It’s essential for the U.S. Government’s oversight of animal biotechnology to be science-based and focused on the health and safety of animals, consumers, and the environment.
“This system must also provide researchers and technology developers with clarity and predictability to foster scientific progress and restore investment in American innovation. Many of these discoveries are made possible by small and mid-sized companies based in rural communities, which provide jobs and help to boost our bioeconomy.
“A modern U.S. regulatory system will pave the way for breakthroughs that can help prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases such as COVID-19, improve animal well-being, address hunger and nutrition, make our farming and food systems more sustainable, protect our environment, and bolster our resilience to climate change.
“The new Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders in the agriculture, environmental, and food community, recognizes that improved animal genetics can help livestock adapt to a changing climate and contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
“We thank USDA for its leadership and look forward to working with the FDA and USDA and the incoming Biden Administration to ensure appropriate safety measures remain in place, and that consumers are confident in the rigor of the system. BIO remains committed to improving public access to information about new agricultural technologies, and we are working with our stakeholder partners to drive transparency measures that cultivate consumer trust.”