The Biotechnology Innovation Organization welcomes today’s announcement by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative that it is initiating a technical consultation with Mexico over that country’s plan to ban imports of biotech corn. “BIO applauds the efforts of USTR and USDA to resolve this issue through negotiations,” said Nancy Travis, vice president for international affairs at BIO. “However, it’s time to send a strong message to the government of Mexico and return to the science-based trading system and obligations to which both our countries committed when we signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. “In addition to the economic harm that Mexico’s proposed ban will have on U.S. corn producers, the ban will have a devastating impact on the agricultural innovation needed to achieve our climate goals and ensure we can meet the world’s growing demand for food. BIO has called for the Biden Administration to use the dispute settlement process in USMCA to provide a framework and timeline to resolve this issue. Today’s announcement of a technical consultation with Mexico is a vital first step to restoring policies that enable farmers to use agricultural biotechnology products and improve food security and sustainability.”

Spring 2023 Season Takes a Deep Dive Into Pain Therapies, Artificial Intelligence, FDA’s Accelerated Approvals, and Misinformation   Today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) premieres its new I am BIO podcast season, which tells powerful stories of biotech breakthroughs, the people they help, and the global problems they solve. “We want the American public to know they can trust science and biotechnology innovations, which are improving and saving lives,” said BIO’s CEO Rachel King. “By sharing our industry’s unique approaches to helping solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, we’re arming our listeners with first-hand insight into the exciting world of biotechnology.” The season launches with a topic that impacts 50 million people in the United States daily –chronic pain–and explores safe and effective treatments and how government policies could hinder new treatment developments. Each year the podcast releases 12 episodes – six in the spring and six beginning in September. The first half of the season will culminate with an episode on science and health misinformation. Additional episodes during the spring season will cover: The convergence of artificial intelligence and biotechnology Biotech innovation with CRISPR technology Threats to FDA’s Accelerated Approval program In 2022, PR Daily named the I AM BIO podcast a finalist for its Social Media & Digital Awards in the podcast category. Listen now on BIO’s website, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.