Committee and Section Activity

Food and Agriculture International Working Group
Responsible for developing and implementing an international plant biotechnology and trade policy outreach strategy to benefit its members. Members of the working group provide both policy and technical expertise on foreign market access opportunities and barriers. The working group serves as a key forum for the industry to discuss and develop proactive work plans on various U.S. government foreign policy initiatives, and engagement on matters related to agriculture biotechnology.
Staff Contact: Matt O'Mara
Chair: Jim Travis, Monsanto
Vice Chair: Constance Cullman, Dow AgroSciences
Eligibility Requirements: 2

Subcommittees:

EU Task Force
Staff Contact: Matt O'Mara
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Korea Task Force
Staff Contact: Matt O'Mara
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
Develops policy and tactical recommendations for the plant and animal policy committees on initiatives related to agricultural biotechnology's contributions to sustainable agriculture. Working group activities involve state and federal advocacy, research and communications.
Staff Contact: Rob Rosado
Chair: Nancy Hood, ArborGen
Vice Chair: Vacant
Eligibility Requirements: 2

State Government Relations Committee - Food & Agriculture
Oversees the industry's sub-national policy management activities on all issues related to agricultural biotechnology. The committee is comprised of representatives from seed manufacturers, plant-made pharmaceutical companies, and animal cloning and genetically engineered animal developers. BIO maintains relationships with state and regional biotechnology and agribusiness organizations, and retains contract lobbyists in 15 states under the guidance of this committee.
Staff Contact: Ab Basu
Chair: Bryan Stuart, Dow AgroSciences
Vice-Chair: Vacant
Eligibility Requirements: 2

General Counsels Committee
Provides a forum for BIO member-company General Counsels to build collegial relationships and exchange information, experiences, and best practices relating to a wide variety of legal and law department issues, including the development and organization of General Counsel offices, and issues relating to corporate governance, securities, antitrust, supervision of outside counsel, and other practice management activities. Committee participation also keeps members up-to-date on the myriad legislative, regulatory, and international issues impacting the biotechnology industry, through - among other avenues - participation on relevant subcommittees, and in-person committee meetings several times a year.
Staff Contact: Tom DiLenge
Chair: Dolly Vance, Rigel Pharmaceuticals
Vice-Chair: Mark Boulding, PTC Therapeutics
Eligibility Requirements: 1
 

Subcommittees:
Executive Committee
Staff Contact: Tom DiLenge
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Amicus Subcommitte
Staff Contact: Tom DiLenge
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Health Care Reform and Reimbursement Committee
Focuses on federal legislative and regulatory proposals regarding health reform and existing and future drug coverage, particularly within the Medicare and Medicaid programs. This committee develops positions to maintain and expand market-based delivery systems to ensure patient access to biotechnology therapies. The committee focuses on federal, state and third-party reimbursement for biotechnology-derived drugs and biologicals. Members of the committee review health reform and reimbursement issues from a variety of perspectives, including legislative, regulatory, economic, marketing and public relations. Members of the committee meet routinely with government officials regarding legislation and agency regulations.
Staff Contact: Laurel Todd
Chair: Sara Froelich, Genzyme Corporation
Vice-Chair: Greg White, Johnson & Johnson
Eligibility Requirements: 1

Human Resources Committee
Addresses human resources issues within the biotech community and those specific issues that are unique to the industry. The committee serves as a source of information related to human resources and is involved in the programming and planning of the annual Human Resources Conference.
Staff Contact: Ellen Fernandes
Chairs:Susan M. Little, Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Nancy Worrell, SuperGen, Inc

Eligibility Requirements: 3 & 4