It recommends that regulations at U.S. Department of Agriculture and proposed regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency targeting biotechnology products be changed to focus on the characteristics of a plant, not the process used to develop it. Smith's report is the culmination of a series of hearings held on agricultural biotechnology issues by the Basic Research Subcommittee last year. It contains 13 specific findings and makes 6 recommendations. Implementing the recommendations in this report would ensure that this potential is fulfilled. This report concludes that there is no distinction between plants bred using biotechnology and those produced through traditional crossbreeding.
Biotechnology can play a significant role in the future of agriculture.
It can help farmers improve their yields, and decrease their reliance on chemical agents. I'd like to thank Chairman Nick Smith for his leadership on this issue. Because of his efforts, Americans can look forward to a cleaner environment and better, safer produce. The report addresses many of the concerns surrounding agricultural biotechnology, including the Monarch butterfly, allergens, toxins, antibiotic resistance, and outcrossing. It concludes that plants and foods produced using agricultural biotechnology pose risks no greater than those for plants and foods developed using traditional methods.