The US House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research,
Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture held a public hearing to consider the
benefits of biotechnology. The hearing was held on July 9, 2014. The
witnesses in the hearing include Dr. David Just of Cornell University; Dr.
Calestous Juma of Harvard University; Dr. Olga Bolden-Tiller of Tuskegee
University; and Mrs. Joanna Lidback, a dairy farmer and mother from
Westmore, Vermont. All the witnesses emphasized how consumers, farmers, and
the environment have benefited from traditional and modern biotechnology
applications.

"It is clear from the hearing today that biotechnology plays a critical role
in meeting a number of consumer and societal needs. In a world where it is
important to help feed our expanding population while ensuring that everyone
has access to safe, diverse, and quality food, the U.S. can, and should, be
a leader in biotech development to address the coming challenges for future
generations. Whether it is treating vitamin deficiency, autoimmune disorders
or addressing hunger, biotechnology has and will continue to play a large
role in global agriculture," said Chairman Austin Scott during the hearing.

[agriculture.house.gov]