Farmers and Industry Set Record Straight on Biotech Foods

    SAN DIEGO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The following press release was issued
today by The Alliance for Better Foods:

    Declaring "America's consumers deserve to hear the truth about
agricultural biotechnology and its environmental and economic benefits," food
industry spokesperson Gene Grabowski opened a panel discussion of biotech
foods with a diverse group representing the agriculture, health and the
biotechnology industries at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
annual conference.
    "We're here to serve as a truth squad," said Grabowski, Vice President of
Communications for the Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA), the world's
largest association of food, beverage and consumer product companies.
"Agricultural biotechnology brings real and tangible results to consumers,
farmers and the environment."
    Grabowski said the "Truth Squad" was formed to counter the misinformation
campaign of anti-biotech demonstrators assembled in San Diego.  The "Truth
Squad" includes San Diego County citrus farmer Al Stehly, Iowa soybean and
corn farmer Reg Clause, registered dietician Karen Kafer and Dr. Michael J.
Phillips, executive director of food and agriculture at BIO.
    "As a farmer growing biotech corn and soybeans I can attest first hand to
two very important reasons why America and the developing world needs biotech
crops," Clause said.  "I use less pesticides on my crops and I am getting more
food out of my fields.  If I had any doubts about the safety of these crops, I
wouldn't grow them and I wouldn't let my family work in the fields with them."
    In addition, biotech crops enable farmers to plow less, which means less
soil erosion and less runoff into rivers and streams.  And by improving the
productivity on existing farmland, biotech crops help in the preservation of
natural wildlife areas.
    "I'm excited about the potential benefits biotechnology can bring to
citrus and grape farming," said San Diego County farmer Al Stehly.  "The grape
industry in Anaheim was entirely wiped out by Pierce's disease and San Diego
County has been dramatically impacted as well.  There is no cure, but biotech
researchers have made discoveries that make us optimistic that the rest of
California, including Napa Valley, might never experience this devastating
disease."
    "Foods made from biotechnology crops are safe and every bit as nutritious
as conventional and organic foods," said registered dietician Karen Kafer
regarding the regulation of biotech foods.  "The current system we have, which
allows voluntary labeling of products made from biotechnology crops, is
working and guarantees consumers safe and nutritious foods."
    "The science behind the safety of these crops is sound and irrefutable,"
said Dr. Phillips.  "Biotech crops are among the most tested products in the
world and have been used in our food products for the last six to seven years
and there have been no reported illnesses as a result of eating any of these
food products."

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