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The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) is hosting the first-ever BIO Agriculture & Environment Summit on April 17-18, 2024, a chance to discuss the role of biotech in addressing climate change and sustainable farming, among other topics.
The event will take place in Washington, D.C., and feature federal government officials including:
- U.S. Reps. Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Adrian Smith (R-NE);
- Dr. Kristi Muldoon-Jacobs, Acting Director, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS);
- Bernadette Juarez, Deputy Administrator, Biotechnology Regulatory Services, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; and,
- Madison Le, Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs, Biopesticides and Pollution Prevention.
The role of biotech in sustainable farming
The BIO Agriculture & Environment Summit will shine a light on how biotech can help farmers grow more resilient crops and increase output.
Shifting weather patterns pose serious challenges to the environment and crops. By harnessing biobased solutions, we can mitigate the effects of climate change.
“When you look at the many ways in which biotech companies are rising to the challenge of reducing and mitigating climate impacts, such as developing crop traits and plant-based materials to replace fossil resources, there is no question that biotech is ‘climate tech,’” BIO’s VP for Agriculture and Environment Beth Ellikidis previously said.
Why is the summit important?
Agriculture plays a crucial role in our society. According to the USDA, “each American farmer feeds more than 165 people.”
The summit raises awareness and celebrates the role of biotech and agriculture in feeding people and boosting the economy.
“From helping new and beginning farmers stay in business, to making operations more resistant to unpredictable climate threats, to recruiting a diverse next generation of agriculture professionals, to creating a new model where farms of all sizes can thrive, USDA is laser-focused on creating opportunity for all who want to participate in agriculture, both now and well into the future,” said Tom Vilsack, U.S. Agriculture Secretary, in a statement celebrating the 51st annual National Agriculture Day in late March.
In addition to discussing important innovations and challenges facing the industry, BIO’s summit will explore topics such as intellectual property protection, international trade, and policy affecting the bioeconomy.
Get involved with BIO’s Agriculture & Environment team to learn more about advocacy priorities underway to advance biotechnology innovation.
Registration for the BIO Agriculture & Environment Summit is free.
