[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 76 (Thursday, June 3, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE BENEFITS OF BIOTECH FOODS

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 3, 2004

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member commends to his colleagues the 
following editorial from the May 20, 2004, Omaha World-Herald. The 
editorial highlights the findings in a recent report issued by the U.N. 
Food and Agriculture Organization. As the U.N. report noted, biotech 
foods have been found to be safe and hold the potential to alleviate 
world hunger and disease. Biotech crops have already provided improved 
crop yields and reduced the demand for chemicals. While reasonable 
safeguards must remain in place, the continued research and use of 
biotech foods should be expanded. Those suffering from hunger in 
developing countries should not be deprived of the benefits of biotech 
foods simply due to irrational and unscientific fears.

                     [From the Omaha World-Herald]

                           Biotech's Benefits

       A United Nations food agency's new report offering a 
     positive outlook on biotech foods should spur more thoughtful 
     research and regulations on the world stage.
       The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's report found 
     that genetically modified crops have been a help to the 
     world's small farmers without posing any food safety threats. 
     In fact, the group said, the major problem is that the 
     technology hasn't spread fast enough or focused enough on the 
     most beneficial crops.
       Basic food crops of the poor such as cassava, potato, rice 
     and wheat receive little attention from scientists, the 
     agency said. Biotechnology holds promise for other important 
     applications, too, such as animal vaccines and breeding.
       The recent U.N. report notes that scientists are almost 
     universally agreed that GM crops currently on the market are 
     safe to eat. Even the European Union, where activists have 
     poisoned consumers with fears of GM foods' hazards, has bowed 
     to science and recently ended a moratorium on approving new 
     biotech crops. (Approval of new crops will likely continue to 
     be slow, however, and consumer acceptance limited.)
       The U.N. agency offers no blank check for genetic 
     engineering, however, nor should it. Careful environmental 
     scrutiny is needed for each new crop, as the possibility of 
     genes' reaching wild populations exists. Keeping medicinal 
     crops, like those which erroneously reached an Aurora, Neb., 
     co-op elevator a few years ago, in proper channels also must 
     be considered.
       But GM foods have brought real help already to the world's 
     poor farmers--more money from improved crop yields, fewer 
     dangers through the reduced use of pesticides. On the horizon 
     is the promise of more nutritious foods and crops that grow 
     in water-parched areas.
       World efforts and research dollars should be funneled into 
     those areas.
       At the very least, we hope the U.N. report chokes off the 
     fears that have left donated foods rotting in ports while 
     African populations starve.

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