Nick Smith, June 1, 2003

Biotechnology is one of the most promising sectors of the economy. It’s revolutionizing medicine, with at least 95 biotech drugs already approved in the U.S. and 371 more under development including medications for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and many other conditions. It will produce higher quality foods that can provide both nourishment and immunization for billions of hungry people around the world. Unfortunately, biotechnology has come under attack from some in the European Union and elsewhere who hope to avoid competition in this area. The Speaker of the House, USAID Administrator, and leading scientists will testify at a Congressional hearing June 12th on the safety and potential of plant biotechnology.

In the summer of 1999, the journal Nature published a study suggesting that pollen from genetically modified corn could harm monarch butterfly populations, sparking a worldwide controversy. While follow-up studies have since proven such pollen presents no danger to monarchs, the foundations of fear had been set, and soon other allegations about plant biotechnology emerged. In response, the House Science Subcommittee on Research, which I chair, met with leading scientists across the country and followed with a series of hearings investigating the potential benefits and safety concerns associated with plant biotechnology. Our findings, compiled in a comprehensive report entitled "Seeds of Opportunity," showed that crops developed through biotech were just as safe as those developed through conventional means.

Three years since we released the report, its findings still hold true, and are now backed by an even larger body of scientific evidence. Also, America’s three-pronged safety review by USDA, FDA, and EPA for biotech products comes as close to guaranteeing safety for people and the environment as you can get. That’s why Speaker of House Dennis Hastert and members of Congress joined with Bush Administration officials on May 12th to announce that the U.S. would file a WTO challenge to the European Union’s import ban on genetically modified (GM) crops.

Enter Africa. President Bush rightly charged that the EU’s ban is an unjust burden on the world’s poorest continent. With approximately 180 million undernourished people, and perennial low yields brought on by drought, insects, and other disasters, Africa stands to benefit tremendously from GM crops. Yet, the EU exploits Africa’s dependency on the EU as a trading partner to stall acceptance of GM crops. For example, starving Zambia rejected 23,000 metric tons of emergency U.S. food aid because Europe could respond by rejecting future corn exports. There is even some evidence that EU pressure is impeding even research into new crop varieties that could feed Africa.

The Research Subcommittee will be examining the barriers to plant biotechnology R&D in Africa in more detail at the June 12th hearing. The Speaker of the House will testify to support the WTO challenge and support the safety of biotechnology.

Sound science, should drive trade and regulatory decisions associated with transgenic food crops, not protectionism masquerading behind a thin veil of unfounded fears. The U.S. challenge moves us one step closer to removing the unfair barriers that hurt American farmers and deny the people of Africa a wonderful tool for combating hunger.

Congressman Nick Smith represents the 7th District Congressional of Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives.