Make decisions that can be incorporated into the agricultural growing and marketing seasons. Make your decisions based on science and not emotion. Comments of Robert Hutchison to the Food and Drug Administration, Nov. 30, 1999. We use checkoff funds generated from the sale of grain in Maryland to improve the profitability of agriculture through the increased utilization of our crops. We seek to expand our market opportunities in many ways and we believe that biotechnology can be an important tool in the future to meet this end.
Many opportunities exist worldwide to expand the export market for our crops.
Unfortunately, the European consumer does not appear to be confident in the safety of genetically enhanced crops. This perception is based on a lack of confidence in their governments and a lack of knowledge about the safety and testing of the products. The way FDA decides to handle this issue can play a major role in influencing consumer confidence both in the United States and abroad. We ask that you enhance consumer confidence in American crops. There is a small market for organically produced products.