[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18192-18193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9173]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Research Service


Notice of Establishment of the Advisory Committee on 
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture and Notice of Appointment of 
Committee Members

AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Advisory Committee on 
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture and notice of appointment of 
committee members.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and 
Economics of the Department of Agriculture, in accordance with the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, announces the 
establishment of and appointment of members to the Advisory Committee 
on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (``AC21'').

ADDRESSES: The public may send written comments to Michael Schechtman, 
Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B 
Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20250.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Telephone: (202) 
720-3817, Fax: (202) 690-4265, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Agriculture is 
establishing a new committee, the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology 
and 21st Century Agriculture. The purpose of this new committee is to 
examine the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and 
agriculture system and USDA, and provide guidance to USDA on pressing 
individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related 
to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. The committee is 
necessary and in the public interest.
    The Committee will report to the Secretary through an annual report 
and other means as necessary and appropriate.
    The Committee will meet in Washington, DC, up to four (4) times per 
year. Eighteen members were appointed from nominations of more than 100 
well-qualified individuals, representing the biotechnology industry, 
the farming community, the seed industry, food manufacturers, commodity 
processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, along with 
academic researchers as well as experts on bioethics and legal issues. 
Equal opportunity practices were followed in appointing committee 
members. To assure that recommendations of the advisory committee take 
into account the needs of diverse groups served by the Department, 
membership includes, to the extent practicable, individuals with 
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with 
disabilities.
    The following appointments to the Advisory Committee on 
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture have been made:
    Patricia A. Layton, Professor, Department of Forest Resources, 
Clemson University, in Clemson, South Carolina will serve as Chair of 
the AC21;
    Daryl D. Buss, Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of 
Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin;
    Leon C. Corzine, Farmer, and Chairman, Biotechnology Working Group, 
National Corn Growers Association, in Assumption, Illinois;
    Carole Cramer, Professor, Virginia Tech, and Chief Scientific 
Officer, CropTech Corporation, in Blacksburg, Virginia;
    Richard T. Crowder, Chief Executive Officer, American Seed Trade 
Association, in Alexandria, Virginia;
    Michael D. Dykes, Vice President, Government Affairs, Monsanto 
Company, in Washington, DC;
    Juan C. Enriquez-Cabot, Director, Life Sciences Project, Harvard 
Business School, in Boston, Massachusetts;
    Randal W. Giroux, Staff Scientist, Cargill, Inc., in Wayzata, 
Minnesota;
    Duane Grant, Farmer and Member, National Association of Wheat 
Growers and U.S. Wheat Inc. Biotechnology Committee, in Rupert, Idaho;
    David A. Hoisington, Director, Applied Biotechnology Center and 
Bioinformatics, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center 
(CIMMYT), in Mexico City, Mexico;
    Gregory A. Jaffe, Co-Director, Biotechnology Project, Center for 
Science in the Public Interest, in Washington, DC;
    David C. Magnus, Assistant Professor, Center for Bioethics, 
University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
    Terry L. Medley, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, DuPont

[[Page 18193]]

Agriculture and Nutrition, in Wilmington, Delaware;
    Margaret G. Mellon, Director, Food and Environment Program, Union 
of Concerned Scientists, in Washington, DC;
    Ronald D. Olson, Vice President, Grain Operations, General Mills, 
in Minneapolis, Minnesota;
    Jerome B. Slocum, Farmer and General Manager, North Mississippi 
Grain Company, in Coldwater, Mississippi;
    Keith C. Triebwasser, Manager, Product Safety and Regulatory 
Affairs, The Procter and Gamble Company, in Cincinnati, Ohio;
    Lisa W. Zannoni, Head, Global Regulatory Affairs and Government 
Relations, BASF Plant Science, in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
    Committee members will initially serve one-or two-year terms, and 
may be reappointed to serve up to six consecutive years. In the event 
of a vacancy, the Secretary will appoint a new member as appropriate 
and subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. 
The duties of the Committee are solely advisory.
    Committee members will serve without pay. Reimbursement of travel 
expenses and per diem costs shall be made to Committee members who 
would be unable to attend Committee meetings without such 
reimbursement.

Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 03-9173 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P