Group Formed to Advise on Engineered Crops

A committee appointed to advise the government on development and use of genetically engineered crops will include organic farmers, critics of biotech food, consumer advocates, scientists and executives of major seed companies. “It is my hope that this group, which brings together people with a range of perspectives and experiences, will engage in the kind of thoughtful and civil debate on biotechnology that our country now needs,” Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said. Glickman appointed former Rep. Dennis Eckart (D-Ohio) chairman of the 38-member panel. The Agriculture Department plans to hire a professional facilitator to help Eckart manage the panel. The committee includes representatives of Monsanto Co., General Mills Inc., the Environmental Defense Fund, Organic Farming Research Foundation, Consumer Federation of America, Rural Advancement Foundation International, National Corn Growers Assn. and the American Farm Bureau Federation. The committee will begin meetings in March.