This is from the Governors speech on BioTechnology
--- begin forwarded text
-- Note: This is a hand-typed transcription from a printed copy of this
speech. Grammatical errors & poor sentence structure have been left intact
for your enjoyment. Typos may be mine, but I'll do my best to catch them
before I hit "send" - Ericka Dana
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-- Excerpts from the official transcript of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's
National Press Club Speech, Tuesday, May 2, 2000, printed and issued by the
Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
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5/2/00
Governor Tom Vilsack:
"< >... great nations and great peoples respond to great challenges. And I
want to visit with you today about what I believe is one of the great
challenges of the early 21st century, and how American farmers and Americans
in general can respond to those great challenges.
But to do that, I need to take you back in history. I would like to do so
with the help of a recent, wonderful book written by Senator John Culver,
former U.S. Senator from Iowa, and John Hyde, a former Washington reporter
for the Des Moines Register. It is entitled, "American Dreamer: The Life and
Times of Henry Wallace." Henry Wallace was an Iowan, founder of Pioneer
Hi-Bred Seed, an agriculture journalist, secretary of agriculture, and
ultimately, vice president of the United States.
The beginning of the book tells a wonderful story about agriculture and
Henry Wallace. Back in the early 1900's, corn was considered to be good if
it visually looked good and if it was perfect in shape, size, and color. For
centuries, farmers perpetuated their crops by taking a look at the very best
ears of corn and setting those aside and using it for future seed.
Agriculture organizations and institutions had corn shows where the perfect
ear of corn was displayed. In fact, the perfect ear of corn was defined as
an ear that was ten and a half inches long, seven and a half inches by
circumference, and 20 to 22 straight rows of golden kernels.
It was a young high school student who challenged this system of judging
corn. Henry Wallace suggested that it should not be based on the appearance
of the corn, but instead, on its ability to yield more corn - that should be
the gauge by which we determine success. He conducted an experiment... < > "
"< > ...and they began the process of crossbreeding and inbreeding corn -
creating the hybridization of corn that essentially unleashed a century of
productivity that we still enjoy today. Now, that was certainly adequate
technology in the 20th century. But we have new challenges today.
It starts with recognition of what's happening to the world's population.
We have six billion people in the world today. It's expected and anticipated
that we will have another billion people within the next 12 years. And the
world's population wlil increase by a billion each decade thereafter. This
presents an enormous challenge in terms of our ability to fed the world. It
is magnified more so by the fact that 95 percent of this population growth
is likely to occur in regions of the world where - because of heat, cold,
weeds, pests, or drought - food production will be hampered. We will
obviously have to grow more on less land.
At the same time, we also have to be concerned about the make-up of the
world population. Today, 790 million people are chronically hungry. Of that
figure, 300 million are children of school age or younger. We are in a
global economy where education will be key - the ability to learn, and to
learn well. It's difficult to learn well when you are hungry. So not only
must we grow more food, we have to figure out now to grow more nutritious
food.
At the same time, we are confronted with the reality of the 20th century
that our response to the challenge for greater productivity resulted in us
artificially increasing yields by applying fertilzer, chemicals, herbicides,
and pesticides. Unfortunately, half of the fertilizer we apply ends up in
our rivers and streams. In my state, we have 159 impaired or polluted
waterways, in part caused from agricultural runoff. the nutritional value of
soil is being depleted - we are losing topsoil at a dangerous rate - and we
must learn how not only to grow more food and more nutritious food, but we
have to do it in a way that does not sacrifice the quality of our land or
the quality of our water.
How do we respond to this challenge? Welll, I would suggest to you that
we respond in the same way we have been responding for centuries: by using
technology, biotechnology - the use of cells, genes, proteins, enzymes, and
antibodies - to fight disease and to create a food product that is
healthier, more nutritious, and less threatening to the envronment. In fact,
some would suggest this is new science. But I would make the case that it is
not new science - it is simply quicker science.
$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$*$
An aside from the e-transcriber -- doing OK? Now pause, take a breath, and
get ready for this next bit of agricultural history as told to the world by
Governor Tom Vilsack via NPR. Please keep reading... it gets better!
Thanks - E.
$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$_$
We began using biotechnology back in 1750 BC, when the Samarians figured
out a way to ferment food to preserve it. And we have been improving our
efforts ever since. When Henry Wallace worked on hybrid seed, he was
essentially trying to manipulate 100,000 genes to find the right sequence.
It sometimes took 10 to 12 years to find the right sequence. We can't afford
to wait that long. In that time period, a billion more mouths will have to
be fed, millions more will be malnourished, and we will continue to have
rapid depletion of our natural resources.
Can we do it? I believe we can, and in fact we are. Today, we are using
science to ensure plants are tougher - more resistant to heat, cold, weeds,
and pests. We have added genes to maize and rice, making it resistant to
certain toxins, which allow us to grow food in lands that were previously
unproductive. We also have figured out ways to make food more nutritious. We
are using science to grow corn with enhanced vitamins, including rice with
Vitamin A. Rice with Vitamin A could help prevent blindness in a hundred
million children who suffer potential blindness as a result of Vitamin A
deficiency.
We also can do this in a way that protects the environment. Biotechnology
will enable us to grow corn and beans that are resistant to pests and weeds
without chemicals - enabling plants to more effectively use the nutrition in
the soil - resulting in less tillage, less need for irrigation, less
erosion, less top soil loss, less run-off - better, cleaner soil and better,
cleaner water.
Today there are more than 50 varieties of biotech products. Forty-four
percent of the United States' bean crop is biotech; 36 percent of our corn
crop is biotech. And American farmers are encouraged to use biotechnology,
because in addition to all of its benefits, it saves money. Last year,
American farmers generated $465 million in savings as a result of not having
to use fertilizers, chemicals and pesticide. Yields are increasing.
It also enables and empowers farmers to take nonproductive land out of
production and dedicate it toward p[rivate land conservation programs, which
also can help enhance the environment. I am proud to say that our state is
going to lead the way for the nation in private land conservation because of
a water quality initiative recently passed by the Iowa legislature. This
will encourage farmers to take non-productive land out of production and use
it as a filter to ensure that our rivers and streams are clean; at the same
time not suffering a loss of income, because the rest of their land will be
used more effectively.
I recognize there are critics to biotechnology. There are many who
believe it is not properly regulated or inspected. But for many, they do not
understand that we currently have a number of federal agencies involved in
the regulation and inspection of these products. Few Americans are aware
that the FDA enforces the Food, Drug and cosmetic Act, tests for toxins and
allergic reactions to biotechnology foods. Fewer understand that the EPA
also is involved in the regulation of biotech products by reviewing
biotechnology products that replace pesticides. And the USDA also is
involved in inspecting field tests and conducting field tests in farms
growing biotech products.
How will we respond to these critics? What steps must we take in order
for biotechnology and the crops generated from this science to be better
acepted by the world and by the nation? Let me suggest a couple of ways
which I think are important.
First, I believe the science community must be more engaged than it has
been. I'm please to note that today, a letter is circulationg around the
world that has been signed by more than 1,000 well-respected, well-known
scientists - among them James Watson, the co-discoverer of the double-helix
structure of DNA, and also among them an Iowan, Norman Borlaug, a Nobel
Prize winner, whose work enhanced the value and the nutritional value of
wheat. This letter, and I quote, says, "there is no scientific reason to
believe that genetically engineered foods area any less safe than the foods
we've been eating for centuries." So, a more engaged scientific community is
important.
It's also important and necessary for us to recognize scientific
achievement and stimulate discourse and discussion. I'm happy and proud to
say the Iowa is the home to the World Food Prize Foundation. This World Food
Prize was conceived by Dr. Borlaug. It is a $250,000 anual prize given to an
individual or individuals who promote the concept of food and are trying to
figure out ways in which we can feed a very, very, ever-increasing world
population. This foundation is located in Des Moines through the good graces
and generosity of John Ruan, who is here today. Mr. Ruan... < >
This year's symposium, which will take place in October, will in fact
stimulate the discussion about GMO's. This year's program is entitled "The
Safety of Genetically Modified Organisms and Their Role in Feeding
Developing Nations in the 21st Century." Scienists from all over the world
will congregate in Des moines to discuss... < > ...and to begin responding
to the criticisms. That is certainly part of a growing acceptance of
biotechnology products.
It's also important and necessary for us to have our university systems
involved in support for biotechnology. < >...within my state are leading the
way. Iowa State University, which is among the best land grant colleges in
the country, recently announced an $80 million plant science initiative. The
university will establish a series of centers designed to promote and
encourage scientific research and discovery relative to biotechnology.
There will be a center for... < > ...to generate and stimulate the basic
research that will help create a better level of confidene in biotechnology
products. On the other side of the state, the University of Iowa is involved
with biocatalysis in an effort to promote ways in which research can be
accelerated so that we can learn faster. So, it is clear that universities
must be engaged.
The industry - the biotech and agri-business industry - also must be
involved in educating consumers about he ultimate benefit that will accrue
to consumers throught he use of these products.
And finally, government has a role. I am pleased... < > ...Ed Schafer,
from North Dakota. Ed and I are the lead governors for the National
Governors Association on Agriculture. < > We have extended that partnership
to create the Governors' Biotechnology Partnership, which we announced
today. Thirteen overnors are currently involved, and they are: Governor
Kempthorne of Idaho; Governor O'Bannon of Indiana,; Governor Carper of
Delaware; Governor Engler of Michigan; Governor Carnahan of Missouri;
Governor Johanns of Nebraska; Governor Guinn of Nevada; Governor Hunt of
North Carolina; Governor Locke of Washington; Governor Thompson of
Wisconsin; and just today, Governor Ryan from the state of Illinois.
The Governors' Biotechnology Partnerchip is designed to promote a public
understanding and better awareness of ag-biotech products and the important
role they will play in fulfilling and meeting the challenge of the 21st
century in providing more food or nutritious food - and doing so in a way in
which the environment is not threatened.
Henry Wallace once wrote that science, of course, is not like wheat, or
cotton, or automobiles. It cannot be overproducd. It does not fall under the
law of diminishing utility, which makes every extra unit in the stock of a
community of less use than the preceding unit. In fact, the latest knowledge
is usually the best. Moreover, knowledge grows or dies. It cannot live in
cold storage. It is perishable and must be constantly renewed.
Henry Wallace is a man we ought to listen to. Henry Wallace invested
$5,000 in starting the Pioneer Hi-Bred Seed Company, and his family's stock
recently sold for well over a billion dollars, so I would suggest that there
is a reason to listen to Henry Wallace.
In conclusion, these are challenging times. The security of the world is
as much based upon our ability to fed the world as it is to protect the
world. The United States has an opportunity to lead the world - in a
humanitatrian way - to a healthier, more productive world by providing
leadership within a science that will lead to more food, more nutritious
food, and creating food in an environmentally acceptable way.
Thank you very much.
[END]
-- Excerpted from the Official Transcript of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack's
National Press Club Speech, Tuesday, May 2, 2000, printed and issued by the
Office of the Governor, State Capitol, Des Moines, Iowa 50319
----------
-- Note: This is a hand-typed transcription from a printed copy of this
speech. Grammatical errors & poor sentence structure have been left intact
for your enjoyment. Typos may be mine, but I'll do my best to catch them
before I hit "send" - E.D.
--- end forwarded text
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Rex L. Bavousett
Photographer
University of Iowa
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