Biotech Wheat
PRINCIPLES FOR COMMERCIALIZATION
The U.S. wheat industry recognizes the benefits and value which could be created within the wheat chain through the prudent application of modern biotechnology. U.S. wheat producers will support commercialization of transgenic wheat traits after thorough review and development of a commercialization plan that facilitates commercialization with minimal market disruption. We support the ability of our customers to make purchases based on their preferences for specific traits, classes, qualities, and characteristics. We will work diligently to assure that commercially achievable customer preferences are met.
The U.S. wheat industry will support commercialization of transgenic wheat traits when:
1. The technology provider initiates an informative dialogue with the USW/NAWG/WETEC Joint Biotechnology Committee (JBC) prior to submitting for regulatory approvals in the U.S. This dialogue will allow our organizations to initiate education and outreach activities to both domestic and international customers, and to provide the technology provider with practical information intended to facilitate commercialization with minimal or no market disruption.
2. Regulatory approvals for food and feed use must be secured in major wheat export markets that will be affected where a functioning regulatory system exists. Any technology provider wishing to commercialize a niche market product only in the United States, without first securing major export market regulatory or marketing approvals, must initiate a segregation and limited release program designed to prevent market disruption. Major export markets are defined as those which represent at least five percent of the normal export volume of U.S. wheat. In countries where there is no viable regulatory approval system, technology providers will make regulatory submissions promptly when those systems become functional.
3. Buyers willing to accept the new transgenic wheat have been identified.
4. Commercialization of the trait must not impair the ability of non-transgenic wheat to meet commercially recognized thresholds for the adventitious presence of transgenic traits. Appropriate international tolerances for transgenic wheat in non-transgenic shipments must be established and accepted in major export markets. Anticipated thresholds range from 0.9% to 5.0%.
5. An accurate, economical and timely trait detection test must be provided by the trait developer prior to commercialization.
6. The primary responsibility for education and outreach for new traits will remain with the technology provider. USW, WETEC and NAWG will actively help seek buyer acceptance and will provide guidance, assistance and resources where appropriate.
7. The technology provider must demonstrate stewardship of the technology, including education and outreach to growers to assure compliance with agronomic and grower stewardship practices specific to the trait. Technology providers will also institute programs to provide grower and industry education to ensure the integrity of the seed supply.
8. When appropriate, the use of farmer-saved seed should be permitted. The trait should be made available for adaptation into public wheat varieties. The trait should be priced at reasonably comparable levels, using comparable methods of technology fee collection, in all world production markets. When possible, consideration should be given to fee collection at the first point of delivery of the transgenic crop produced to insure fairness and maximize benefits to both the producer and technology provider.
BIOTECHNOLOGY POSITION STATEMENT
Biotechnological research holds great promise for the future, and the U.S. wheat industry recognizes these advancements. In preparation for the future commercialization of biotechnologically-derived wheat, we take the following positions:
1. We support and will work to ensure the ability of wheat producers to make planting and marketing choices based on economic, agronomic, and market factors.
2. We support the ability of our wheat customers to make purchases on the basis of specific traits. We commit ourselves to the principle that our customers’ needs are vitally important.
3. We support and will assist in the development by all segments of the industry of an orderly marketing system to assure delivery of non-transgenic wheat within reasonable tolerances to markets that require it.
4. We urge the adoption of a nationally and internationally accepted definition of biotechnologically-derived products.* We also urge international harmonization of scientific standards and trade rules.
5. We support voluntary labeling of food products, provided it is consistent with US. law and international trade agreements and is truthful and not misleading. We oppose government-mandated labeling of wheat products in both the U.S. and international markets based upon the presence or absence of biotechnologically-derived traits that do not differ significantly from their conventional counterpart.
6. We support the establishment of a reasonable threshold level for adventitious or accidental inclusion of biotechnologically-derived traits in bulk wheat or wheat food products in both U.S. and international markets.
7. We are confident that biotechnology will deliver significant consumer and producer benefits and we support continued biotechnology research, and product and market development. We invite valued and interested customers to join with us in a working partnership to explore the emerging biotechnology industry.
*U.S. Wheat Industry Definition: Biotechnologically-Derived (Genetically Modified Organisms)
“Genetically modified organisms (commonly referred to as “transgenic”) are organisms derived from somatic cell fusion or direct insertion of a gene construct, typically but not necessarily from a sexually-incompatible species, using recombinant DNA techniques and any genetic transformation technology (e.g., bacterial vectors, particle bombardment, electroporation).”
[1., 2., 3., 6.,] Adopted by: USW Board of Directors on 6/27/00; NAWG Board of Directors on 10/17/00; WETEC Board of Directors on 6/25/00.
[4., 5.,] Adopted by USW Board of Directors on 1/30/01; NAWG Board of Directors on 2/03/01; WETEC Board of Directors on 1/29/01; [6] Amended by: NAWG Board of Directors on 1/16/03; WETEC Board of Directors on 1/16/03; USW Board of Directors on March 18, 2003.
Adopted in entirety by WETEC Board of Directors on 2-3-06; USW Board of Directors on 2-5-06; NAWG Board of Directors on 2-7-06.
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The U.S. wheat industry recognizes the benefits and value which could be created within the wheat chain through the prudent application of modern biotechnology. U.S. wheat producers will support commercialization of transgenic wheat traits after thorough review and development of a commercialization plan that facilitates commercialization with minimal market disruption. We support the ability of our customers to make purchases based on their preferences for specific traits, classes, qualities, and characteristics. We will work diligently to assure that commercially achievable customer preferences are met.
The U.S. wheat industry will support commercialization of transgenic wheat traits when:
1. The technology provider initiates an informative dialogue with the USW/NAWG/WETEC Joint Biotechnology Committee (JBC) prior to submitting for regulatory approvals in the U.S. This dialogue will allow our organizations to initiate education and outreach activities to both domestic and international customers, and to provide the technology provider with practical information intended to facilitate commercialization with minimal or no market disruption.
2. Regulatory approvals for food and feed use must be secured in major wheat export markets that will be affected where a functioning regulatory system exists. Any technology provider wishing to commercialize a niche market product only in the United States, without first securing major export market regulatory or marketing approvals, must initiate a segregation and limited release program designed to prevent market disruption. Major export markets are defined as those which represent at least five percent of the normal export volume of U.S. wheat. In countries where there is no viable regulatory approval system, technology providers will make regulatory submissions promptly when those systems become functional.
3. Buyers willing to accept the new transgenic wheat have been identified.
4. Commercialization of the trait must not impair the ability of non-transgenic wheat to meet commercially recognized thresholds for the adventitious presence of transgenic traits. Appropriate international tolerances for transgenic wheat in non-transgenic shipments must be established and accepted in major export markets. Anticipated thresholds range from 0.9% to 5.0%.
5. An accurate, economical and timely trait detection test must be provided by the trait developer prior to commercialization.
6. The primary responsibility for education and outreach for new traits will remain with the technology provider. USW, WETEC and NAWG will actively help seek buyer acceptance and will provide guidance, assistance and resources where appropriate.
7. The technology provider must demonstrate stewardship of the technology, including education and outreach to growers to assure compliance with agronomic and grower stewardship practices specific to the trait. Technology providers will also institute programs to provide grower and industry education to ensure the integrity of the seed supply.
8. When appropriate, the use of farmer-saved seed should be permitted. The trait should be made available for adaptation into public wheat varieties. The trait should be priced at reasonably comparable levels, using comparable methods of technology fee collection, in all world production markets. When possible, consideration should be given to fee collection at the first point of delivery of the transgenic crop produced to insure fairness and maximize benefits to both the producer and technology provider.
BIOTECHNOLOGY POSITION STATEMENT
Biotechnological research holds great promise for the future, and the U.S. wheat industry recognizes these advancements. In preparation for the future commercialization of biotechnologically-derived wheat, we take the following positions:
1. We support and will work to ensure the ability of wheat producers to make planting and marketing choices based on economic, agronomic, and market factors.
2. We support the ability of our wheat customers to make purchases on the basis of specific traits. We commit ourselves to the principle that our customers’ needs are vitally important.
3. We support and will assist in the development by all segments of the industry of an orderly marketing system to assure delivery of non-transgenic wheat within reasonable tolerances to markets that require it.
4. We urge the adoption of a nationally and internationally accepted definition of biotechnologically-derived products.* We also urge international harmonization of scientific standards and trade rules.
5. We support voluntary labeling of food products, provided it is consistent with US. law and international trade agreements and is truthful and not misleading. We oppose government-mandated labeling of wheat products in both the U.S. and international markets based upon the presence or absence of biotechnologically-derived traits that do not differ significantly from their conventional counterpart.
6. We support the establishment of a reasonable threshold level for adventitious or accidental inclusion of biotechnologically-derived traits in bulk wheat or wheat food products in both U.S. and international markets.
7. We are confident that biotechnology will deliver significant consumer and producer benefits and we support continued biotechnology research, and product and market development. We invite valued and interested customers to join with us in a working partnership to explore the emerging biotechnology industry.
*U.S. Wheat Industry Definition: Biotechnologically-Derived (Genetically Modified Organisms)
“Genetically modified organisms (commonly referred to as “transgenic”) are organisms derived from somatic cell fusion or direct insertion of a gene construct, typically but not necessarily from a sexually-incompatible species, using recombinant DNA techniques and any genetic transformation technology (e.g., bacterial vectors, particle bombardment, electroporation).”
[1., 2., 3., 6.,] Adopted by: USW Board of Directors on 6/27/00; NAWG Board of Directors on 10/17/00; WETEC Board of Directors on 6/25/00.
[4., 5.,] Adopted by USW Board of Directors on 1/30/01; NAWG Board of Directors on 2/03/01; WETEC Board of Directors on 1/29/01; [6] Amended by: NAWG Board of Directors on 1/16/03; WETEC Board of Directors on 1/16/03; USW Board of Directors on March 18, 2003.
Adopted in entirety by WETEC Board of Directors on 2-3-06; USW Board of Directors on 2-5-06; NAWG Board of Directors on 2-7-06.
Document: Related Downloads
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