The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology is pleased to announce that The Pew Charitable Trusts has awarded a $3 million grant to The University of Richmond to continue the Pew Initiative’s work over the next two years.

Since it was launched in early 2001, the Pew Initiative has produced reports, issue briefs and conferences that examine some of the controversial issues raised by the application of genetic engineering to agriculture. Topics have addressed the risks and benefits of current and future products of agricultural biotechnology, the adequacy of the U.S. regulatory system, and the challenges of marketing GM crops in a global marketplace deeply divided over acceptance of GM foods. The Initiative also sponsored a two-year facilitated process that brought together key stakeholders, including environmental, consumer, agricultural and industry representatives, to discuss the role of regulation for future agricultural biotechnology products.

Moving forward, the Pew Initiative will continue to provide opportunities to address the many issues generated by agricultural biotechnology. Current plans include:

• Reports on transgenic insects and the adequacy of the Coordinated Framework used by regulators to review biotech products

• Conferences on transgenic animals and plant-made industrial products

• Fact sheets on state legislation related to agricultural biotechnology and the costs of segregating GM and non-GM crops.

In addition, the Pew Initiative plans to continue to conduct polls that track consumer opinion, update fact sheets on US/EU trade issues and host events that respond to timely developments in the agricultural biotechnology debate.

Further information about the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology can be found at www.pewagbiotech.org.