Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture

The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture is an advisory committee to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to its charter: "The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages and supports the responsible development and utilization of beneficial new agricultural products, including those produced through biotechnology, and assures the safety of new products with a science based regulatory approach. USDA has complex and crucial roles in protecting public health and safety, the natural environment, and a competitive, vibrant, and diverse farm economy; ensuring the quality and availability of our food and fiber supply and contributing to long-term global food needs; and maintaining a competitive position of American agricultural products in the international marketplace. These topics are complex and of crucial concern in the conduct of agricultural biotechnology research, regulation, and commercialization. USDA believes it is important to maintain an intensive and regular dialogue to explore and understand the broad array of issues related to the expanding dimensions and importance of agricultural biotechnology. Therefore, USDA is establishing the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) to provide information and advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on issues related to agricultural biotechnology."

Officers and Membership
AC21 has 20 to 25 members, including a Chairperson, who are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Executive Secretary of the USDA Biotechnology Coordinating Committee. Members serve terms of up to 2 years and may be reappointed by the Secretary of Agriculture. However, member may not serve more than six consecutive years on the AC21. AC21 may also have up to 7 ex officio members from federal and/or state government agencies outside of USDA. Ex officio members may participate in discussions but they may not vote.

According to the charter: "Members of AC21 will be knowledgeable in one or more of the following areas: recombinant-DNA (rDNA) research and applications using plants; rDNA research and applications using animals; rDNA research and applications using microbes; food science; silviculture and related forest science; fisheries science; ecology; veterinary medicine; the broad range of farming or agricultural practices; weed science; entomology; nematology; plant pathology; biodiversity; applicable laws and regulations relevant to agricultural biotechnology policy; risk assessment; consumer advocacy and public attitudes; public health/epidemiology; ethics, including bioethics; human medicine; biotechnology industry activities and structure; intellectual property rights systems; and international trade. Members will be selected in order to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints to address effectively USDA biotechnology policy issues under consideration."

Current and Previous Members
The AC21's membership is as follows:

2003 Appointees:
 * Patricia A. Layton (Chair): Professor & Chair, Dept of Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, Clemson, SC (Terms: 2003-2005, 2005-2007, 2007-2009)
 * Daryl D. Buss: Dean and Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, Madison, WI (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2008, 2008-2009)
 * Leon C. Corzine: Farmer; President, LPC Farms, Assumption, IL (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009)
 * Carole L. Cramer: Executive Director, Arkansas State University Biosciences Institute, State University, AR (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2007)
 * Richard T. Crowder: Chief Executive Officer, American Seed Trade Association, Alexandria, VA (Terms: 2003-2005, 2005-2006)
 * Michael D. Dykes: Vice President, Government Affairs, Monsanto Company, Washington, DC (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008)
 * Juan Enriquez-Cabot: Chairman and CEO, Biotechonomy, Newton, MA (Terms: 2003-2005)
 * Randal W. Giroux: Scientific Lead, Corporate Agricultural Biotechnology, Cargill Scientific Resources, Wayzata, MN (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2008, 2008-2009)
 * Duane R. Grant: Farmer; Managing Partner, Grant 4-D Farms, Rupert, ID (Terms: 2003-2005, 2005-2007, 2007-2008)
 * David A. Hoisington: Director, Applied Biotechnology Center and Bioinformatics, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) Mexico City, Mexico (Terms: 2003-2005)
 * Gregory A. Jaffe: Director, Biotechnology Project, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, DC (Terms: 2003-2005, 2005-2007, 2007-2009)
 * David C. Magnus: Co-Director, Stanford Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA (Terms: 2003-2004)
 * Terry L. Medley: Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, DuPont Agriculture and Nutrition, Wilmington, DE (Terms: 2003-2005)
 * Margaret G. Mellon: Director, Food and Environment Program, Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington, DC (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2008, 2008-2009)
 * Jerome B. Slocum: Farmer; President/General Manager, North Mississippi Grain Company, Coldwater, MS (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009)
 * Keith C. Triebwasser: Manager, Product Safety & Regulatory Affairs, The Proctor & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH (Terms: 2003-2005)
 * Lisa W. Zannoni: Head, Global Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, BASF, Research Triangle Park, NC (Terms: 2003-2005, 2005-2007)

2004 Appointees:
 * Ronald D. Olson: Vice President, Grain Operations, General Mills, Minneapolis, MN (Terms: 2003-2004, 2004-2006)
 * Carol Tucker-Foreman: Distinguished Fellow and Director, Food Policy Institute, Consumer Federation of America, Washington, DC (Terms: 2004-2006, 2006-2008, 2008-2010)

2005 Appointees:
 * Robert W. Herdt: Adjunct International Professor, Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (Terms: 2005-2006)
 * Josephine A. Hunt: Program Manager, Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Kraft Foods, Glenview, IL (Terms: 2005-2007)
 * Russell J. Kremer: Farmer; President, Missouri Farmers Union, Frankenstein, MO (Terms: 2005-2007, 2007-2009)
 * Bradley A. Shurdut: Global Leader, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs, Science Policy, Dow AgroSciences, LLC, Washington, DC (Terms: 2005-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2010)
 * Alison L. Van Eenennaam: Cooperative Extension Specialist, Animal Biotechnology and Genomics, Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA (Terms: 2005-2007, 2007-2009)

2006 Appointees:
 * Nancy S. Bryson: Partner, The Bryson Group, Washington, DC (Terms: 2006-2008, 2008-2010)
 * Sarah K. Geisert: Senior Director, Global Regulatory Affairs, General Mills, Minneapolis, MN (Terms: 2006-2008)
 * Nicholas Kalaitzandonakes: MSMC Endowed Professor of Agribusiness, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (Terms: 2006-2008)
 * Steven G. Pueppke: Director, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and Assistant Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (Terms: 2006-2007, 2007-2008)

2007 Appointees:
 * Fuller W. Bazer: Distinguished Professor, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (Terms: 2007-2009)
 * Guy A. Cardineau: Research Professor and Faculty Fellow, The Biodesign Institute, School of Life Sciences, and the Sandra Day O´Connor College of Law, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (Terms: 2007-2009)
 * Michael J. Engler: President, Cactus Feeders, Amarillo, TX (Terms: 2007-2009)
 * James M. Robl: President and CEO, Hematech, Inc., Sioux Falls, SD (Terms: 2007-2009)
 * Stephanie A. Whalen: President, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Aiea, HI (Terms: 2007-2009)
 * R. Bowen Flowers: Farmer, Omega Plantation, Tunica, MS (Terms: 2007-2008)

2008 Appointees:
 * Steven L. Hensley: Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, USA Rice Federation, Arlington, VA (Terms: 2008-2009)
 * Jamie S. Jonker: Director, Regulatory Affairs, National Milk Producers Federation, Arlington, VA (Terms: 2008-2009)
 * Steven Leath: Vice President, Research, North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill, NC (Terms: 2008-2010)

Responsibilities
The AC21 meets four times a year, or less frequently if the workload permits. The AC21 functions in an advisory role, and any actions taken as a result of the work of the AC21 will be made by the Secretary of Agriculture or "other appropriate full-time, salaried USDA officials as designated by the Secretary of Agriculture."

According to the charter: "The AC21 will provide information and advice to the Secretary of Agriculture on topics related to the use of biotechnology in agriculture. The committee is charged with examining the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and agriculture system and USDA, and providing guidance to USDA on pressing individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related to the application of biotechnology in agriculture."

January 2009 Report on GE Animals
In January 2009, the AC21 sent a letter and a report to Edward Schafer, then Secretary of Agriculture, concerning genetically engineered animals. The letter read, in part:

"In March 2008, we began our work on the following charge: Genetically engineered (GE) food animals are being developed in the U.S. and abroad for food and non-food uses. What regulatory issues should the U.S. government consider with regard to the potential development and commercialization of these animals and the products produced from them? Since USDA's legal authorities extend beyond regulation to research, education and marketing, what issues pertaining to GE animals will USDA need to consider when exercising these authorities? How might the views of different stakeholders be obtained and considered?"

The report, which was attached to the letter, covered the question stated above. However, the report is not posted on the AC21 reports website.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * Alison L. Van Eenennaam
 * Gregory A. Jaffe

External resources

 * AC21 Main Page, USDA.
 * AC21 Note to Secretary Schafer Regarding the Committee's work on Transgenic Animals, through December 2008, AC21, January 8, 2009.
 * Global Traceability and Labeling Requirements for Agricultural Biotechnology-Derived Products: Impacts and Implications for the United States, AC21.
 * AC21 Consensus Report - Preparing for the Future, AC21, April 5, 2005.