Crop Biotechnology: The Case for Product Stewardship
By Stanley H. Abramson and J. Thomas Carrato
INTRODUCTION
As this year's spring planting season draws to a close, new questions are being raised about consumer acceptance of biotechnology crops. With millions of acres of genetically engineered corn, cotton, and soybeans in the ground, U.S. farmers are facing renewed resistance to biotechnology crops in overseas markets and increased scrutiny of agricultural biotechnology at home.
Regulation is designed to address both harm and liability. To the public, regulation provides assurance that a product is safe for its intended use. To the producer of the good and others in the chain of commerce, regulation provides assurance that appropriate safety standards have been met in bringing a product to market. These assurances are particularly important when dealing with the introduction of a controversial, new technology. But even the best efforts by regulatory agencies may prove inadequate without the development and implementation of product stewardship programs by the private sector. This article will review the federal government's oversight programs, the key elements of a proactive product stewardship program, and the relationship between these two complimentary activities in addressing the commercialization of plant biotechnology.
As this year's spring planting season draws to a close, new questions are being raised about consumer acceptance of biotechnology crops. With millions of acres of genetically engineered corn, cotton, and soybeans in the ground, U.S. farmers are facing renewed resistance to biotechnology crops in overseas markets and increased scrutiny of agricultural biotechnology at home.
Regulation is designed to address both harm and liability. To the public, regulation provides assurance that a product is safe for its intended use. To the producer of the good and others in the chain of commerce, regulation provides assurance that appropriate safety standards have been met in bringing a product to market. These assurances are particularly important when dealing with the introduction of a controversial, new technology. But even the best efforts by regulatory agencies may prove inadequate without the development and implementation of product stewardship programs by the private sector. This article will review the federal government's oversight programs, the key elements of a proactive product stewardship program, and the relationship between these two complimentary activities in addressing the commercialization of plant biotechnology.