The Biotechnology Industry Organization will soon become the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. The new name, which will be officially launched next year, was announced this week by BIO’s new Board Chair, Ron Cohen, CEO of Acorda Therapeutics. “I’m pleased to announce that the BIO Board has approved a change to BIO’s name,” said Cohen during the 2015 BIO International Convention. “Still … Read More
Hearing on Food Labeling This Week
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health has scheduled a hearing this week on “A National Framework for the Review and Labeling of Biotechnology in Food.” Subcommittee members will discuss the role biotechnology plays on our nation’s farms, food supply, and economy. They will hear from experts about the safety of foods derived from genetically engineered crops and the … Read More
Nebraska Governor Talks Biotech in Europe
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts is on an agricultural trade mission trip to the European Union with stops in Italy, Belgium, and Denmark. The trade mission, being coordinated jointly by the Nebraska Departments of Agriculture and Economic Development, includes a number of representatives from the state’s agriculture industry. One of the delegation’s first stops was at Expo Milano where they visited … Read More
Innovative New Campus for Novozymes
Novozymes, a world leader in biological solutions, is expanding it’s business by an estimated 800 employees. A new research center is to be built in Lyngby, a site 13 kilometers north of Copenhagen, Denmark. The goal of the new station is to create a global hub for biotech research and business development. “This is an investment in the future, where … Read More
Lawmakers Urge Coordination in Pollinator Health
The Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week to review the federal coordination and response regarding pollinator health, and what role, if any, neonicotinoid insecticides may be playing. “Federal coordination and communication is vital in establishing rules and regulations impacting pollinator health and farmers’ abilities to produce food,” said Subcommittee Chairman Rodney … Read More
ARA Supports Food Labeling Act
Hundreds of organizations representing various sectors of the food and agriculture industry signed on to a letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives asking them to support the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The groups representing the Coalition for Safe Affordable Food urged members of Congress to consider co-sponsoring the bill introduced last month by Reps. Mike … Read More
EU Approves 17 Biotech Traits for Import
After the European Commission had just proposed to let European Union (EU) states opt out of the import of food and feed containing biotechnology traits, the body seems to have reversed course a bit and approved 17 biotechnology traits for import. The news was met with guarded optimism from the American Soybean Association’s (ASA) First Vice President Richard Wilkins, a … Read More
EU Plan Would Allow Countries to Ban Biotech
A new proposal by the European Commission which would allow member countries to ban the import of food and feed containing biotech ingredients, causing a concern for U.S. agricultural interests. “We are very disappointed by today’s announcement of a regulatory proposal that appears hard to reconcile with the EU’s international obligations,” said United States Trade Representative Michael Froman. “Moreover, dividing … Read More
Vermont GE Labeling Rules Adopted
Vermont’s Attorney General has formally adopted the regulations implementing Act 120, the state law requiring the labeling of food produced with genetic engineering. The new rule is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2016. The final rule provides details on how the “Produced with Genetic Engineering” label should appear on processed food, exemptions from the labeling requirement, and contains … Read More
Forbes AgTech Summit Announced
The first-ever “Forbes Reinventing America: The AgTech Summit” will be held July 8-9 in Salinas Valley, California. Forbes, in partnership with SVG Partners and The Steinbeck Innovation Cluster, has announced that Dr. Robert Fraley of Monsanto and Neal Gutterson of DuPont will be among the speakers at the invitation-only event to examine issues such as biotech and big data’s role … Read More