Washington, DC
September 11, 2003

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21) will hold its second meeting on Sept. 15-16 in Washington, D.C. The committee will continue discussions on its main task, the preparation of a report examining the impacts of agricultural biotechnology on American agriculture and USDA over the next 5 to 10 years.

The AC21 consists of 18 members representing the biotechnology industry, the seed industry, international plant genetics researchers, farmers, food manufacturers, commodity processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, along with academic researchers including a bioethicist.

At the meeting, the committee will approve a working framework for the report, review a draft outline for the report’s introduction, organize work groups and develop a plan for drafting the report. There will also be preliminary presentations and introductory discussions on a sub-area of these work-future biotechnology-derived value-added products with direct consumer benefits.

The meeting will take place in the Waugh Auditorium, 1800 M Street, N.W., South Tower, Third Floor, Washington, D.C., from 8:30 am to 5 pm, both days.

On Sept. 15, if time permits, reasonable provision will be made for oral presentations of no more than five minutes each from members of the public who wish to make statements. Individuals wishing to make such statements should also inform Dr. Michael Schechtman by telephone at Area Code (202) 720-3817 or via E-mail at mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.