Agriculture is undergoing a major positive and challenging transformation as it continues to provide food and feed while expanding its role as a major provider of fuels and chemicals. In June, 2008, the 20th Annual National Agricultural Biotechnology Conference was held in Columbus, Ohio to address the transformation that agriculture is undergoing.
The National Agricultural Biotechnology Council has been hosting annual public meetings about the safe, ethical, and efficacious development of agricultural biotechnology products since its formation by the Boyce Thompson Institute in collaboration with Cornell University, Iowa State University, and the University of California-Davis in 1988. Today the organization, a not-for-profit consortium of 34 leading agricultural research and teaching governmental agencies / institutions / universities in the U.S. and Canada, continues to provide all stakeholders the opportunity to speak, to listen, and to learn about the issues surrounding agricultural biotechnology.
Keynote speakers from this year’s conference represent agriculture, industry and the environment conveyed their perspectives on these megatrends. Ethicists and policy experts gave guidance as to how to maximize benefits and minimize challenges. Attendees had an opportunity in breakout sessions to provide their input and guidance on these issues. Many of the presentations are available online: