Agricultural policy-makers increasingly invite CAST to provide testimony on key issues, and to review reports from the National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council and Federal agencies. These CAST services have influenced the direction and speed of Congressional decisions and actions on important issues. CAST publications on topics of national importance also have significant impact. They included testimony by David Lineback, Ph.D.,Univ. of MD, to the USDA Citizen Advisory Board on Biotechnology and Richard E. Stuckey, CAST executive vice president, at a Congressional hearing on carbon cycle research and the role of agriculture in reducing climate change. CAST is collaborating with the International Food Information Council and the Georgetown University Center for Food and Nutrition Policy in an ongoing effort to disseminate scientific information and facts about current food biotechnology issues to the national media.
Summaries are available on the CAST web site.
D.C. The release of the paper was scheduled to coincide with National Invasive Weed Awareness Week, February 28 through March 3. The CAST Board of Directors approved five new topics for issue paper projects at its September meeting in New Orleans. The CAST Board of Directors approved a position statement on biotechnology at the fall board meeting. Cindy Lynn Richard joined CAST as Biotechnology Communications Coordinator in July. Richard will contribute to CAST's efforts to enhance public understanding of agricultural and food biotechnology and related science issues by providing the public with easy access to information on biotechnology to make informed decisions.