U.S. grower leaders were represented by USSEC chairman Laura Foell, American Soybean Association (ASA) chairman Wade Cowan and United Soybean Board (USB) chairman Bob Haselwood at the ISGA Forum Plenary Session in Beijing on April 21.

ISGA’s white paper, “The Potential Economic Impacts of Delayed Biotech Innovation in Soybeans,” detailing the global implications of biotech approval delays to soy production and supply and demand were presented. Discussions included the consequences of biotech approval delays to China as well as to global producers and consumers of soy.
As a unified statement for a streamlined approval process, ambassadors from each IGSA member country in attendance addressed the forum.

“I urge everyone here to share notes, share ideas and ask questions,” Max Baucus U.S. Ambassador to China, said. “We need to continue to develop soybean production, soybean consumption and the food needs of the this world.”

Members of the Chinese media in attendance at the forum were able to ask questions of all forum speakers and representatives from each of the ISGA countries. Many forum participants echoed the fact that the increased regulatory process has stifled innovation and costs nearly $136 million for discovery, development and authorization of a new biotech crop. ISGA members hope that information provided at the forum combined with the white paper will help spread the truth about biotechnology crops while easing Chinese consumers’ fears about biotechnology.

After the forum, the team met with media at a reception.