Membership in the NABC
Membership in the NABC is offered to research institutions involved in activities that support agricultural biotechnology research and development.
Biotechnology, especially agricultural biotechnology, is the first technology where people representing a host of different societal groups are demanding a role in the discussion of public research agendas and the premarketing impact of new products on the environment and society. Through the NABC, public interest groups, regulatory agency staff, scientists, sociologists, farmers, industrialists, economists, consumers, ethicists, lawyers and others can meet in a non-threatening environment to exchange views and make progress towards a consensus.
The NABC also provides a network for member institutions to work together on the complex issues that arise regionally and nationally. Senior administrators represent member institutions on the Council, which sets policy and the overall direction of the organization. The Council meets 2-3 times per year to conduct the NABC business. Day-to-day operations are overseen by the organization's president and its executive coordinator, who together work with representatives from each member institution and the Executive Committee.
By providing a neutral vehicle for dialogue among these groups, the NABC will continue to play an essential role in agricultural biotechnology in the new millennium.