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Food and Energy Security: Raising AgriBio’s Profile

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The European Union’s approval system for agricultural biotechnology products continues to be plagued by delays and member-state prohibitions. In the EU, there are now nearly 70 products awaiting approvals, and there are no new cultivation approvals. In fact, France and Germany have imposed cultivation bans within the past two years. Change is needed now to meet global food and energy security goals.

Meeting the Need

During the first half of this century, the challenge of increasing global food security by helping farmers across the globe increase their productivity can be met. Agricultural biotechnology is a key tool that can contribute to alleviating hunger, raising farmers’ incomes, improving health and nutrition, expanding opportunities and strengthening regional economies.

Expanding the adoption of agricultural biotechnology requires the implementation of appropriate science- and risk-based policies and regulation by governments. Timely approval of agricultural biotech products is essential to enable farmers’ access to this valuable technology.

Dr. Joachim Schneider is head of BioScience at Bayer CropScience and chairman of BIO’s Food and Agriculture Section Governing Board.